Dr Joy Meyer graduated from the North-West University in South Africa, where she earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees with distinction. Her master’s thesis, along with her work for the University of South Africa’s Music Foundation, ignited her interest in community music as a field. In 2023, she graduated with a PhD in Visual and Performing Arts with Music from the North-West University. Her doctoral thesis, titled “Moving Towards Social Cohesion Through a Dalcroze-Inspired Approach: A Multisite Case Study,” was part of a state-funded project called Social Cohesion Through Community Music Engagement. This project involved her engagement with three community music programs before the COVID-19 pandemic. Her current research interests centre on making string pedagogy more accessible through inclusive and embodied teaching approaches.