The Australian Dalcroze Certificate

Overview

Dalcroze Australia is recognized by the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze and FIER (Fédération Internationale des Enseignants de Rythmique) as the official Dalcroze training centre in Australia.  Our immediate past Director of Studies, Sandra Nash, worked closely with Karin Greenhead (UK) to develop a program specifically for those who train through part-time or intensive courses, joining with Louise Mathieu (Canada) and Ava Loiacono (Italy) to form the Dalcroze Eurhythmics International Examinations Board (DEIEB).  Part-time courses based on this syllabus have been run in Australia for several years.

At present, Dalcroze Australia has paused the registration of any new trainees as we focus on supporting those students currently on the DEIEB training track to complete their studies under the oversight of our Interim Directors of Studies, Andrew Davidson and Kaye Barker. The Dalcroze Australia committee is in the process of evaluating options for resuming Dalcroze teacher training in the near future, and welcomes enquiries from anyone who would like to be kept updated on training opportunities.

Director of studies

Kaye Barker - Interim co director of studies

Kaye is a teacher, workshop leader and professional violinist. She graduated with the Diplôme Supérieur in Dalcroze Eurhythmics in 2022 and received the Aletheia Prize for choreography in 2020. A music graduate of the University of Oxford, she also holds a master’s degree in education from Middlesex University and is a qualified classroom teacher. Her portfolio career began as a violinist with the BBC Philharmonic, followed by membership of the Bridge String Quartet, which performed live on BBC Radio 3 and recorded a series of acclaimed CDs. She later moved into education, serving first as Head of Strings for Ealing Music Service and then as Head of Music at Gumley School for Girls, both in West London. She now teaches at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and on Dalcroze Eurhythmics UK’s Teacher Training programme, where she is Centre Director for Ealing, London. She has organised a series of Dalcrozemoves courses, teaches at Dalcroze UK’s Spring and Summer Schools, and has been a guest teacher in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Shanghai, China and Hong Kong, China. Kaye is also Co-Director of Studies for Dalcroze Eurhythmics UK (DEUK) and Dalcroze Australia (DA).

Dr Andrew Davidson - Interim co director of studies

Andrew Davidson, PhD, is an Australian theatre practitioner, musician, educator, and researcher based in London, UK. He is a Senior Lecturer in Acting and Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting (GSA), University of Surrey, where he has taught since 2015 and completed a doctorate in performer training in 2026. Andrew trained as a theatre director at Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and as a composer at the University of Sydney. He has worked as a director, pianist, and composer across theatre, musical theatre, opera, and dance. Andrew is a qualified teacher of Dalcroze Eurhythmics, having progressed from the Dalcroze Certificate with Dalcroze Australia, through the Master of Music and Dalcroze Licence at Longy School of Music in the USA, to the Diplôme Supérieur from the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze (IJD) in Switzerland. Andrew is a Co-Director of Studies for Dalcroze Eurhythmics UK (DEUK) and Dalcroze Australia (DA). He is also a qualified teacher of Kodály Musicianship, holding the Professional Certificate of the British Kodály Academy (BKA). Andrew regularly delivers training for music educators through international workshops and conferences. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).

DR SAndra Nash Oam - immediate past director of studies

 The Committee of Dalcroze Australia 

announces the retirement of its distinguished member and Director of Studies.

 Dr Sandra Nash OAM

Dr Nash recently marked her 50th year since gaining the highest qualification awarded by the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze Geneva, the post-graduate Diplộme Superiour. 

With delightfully fortuitous timing, she also received the announcement by Her Excellency, the Honourable Governor-General, Sam Mosryn, AC, of an OAM award in the 2026 Australian Honours ‘for services to Music Education’.

On both these counts we celebrate her success and ask you to join with us in wishing her well in her future retirement activities.

When Sandra advised the committee, it was time for her to step down from the demands of Director of Studies, a position she had held since the mid-1990s, she noted she remained available to serve in a consultative role from time to time. 

One of our long-time members remarked indeed Sandra ‘has ‘a golden thread’ weaving through her well-prepared lessons and service to the Dalcroze approach to Music Education.

50 years ago, Sandra attended her first meeting of the FIER (Federation Internationals of Teachers of Rhythmics). We are proud that for over 30 years, Sandra has been our supportive contributing Delegate providing excellent reports to the international body.   

Sandra’s ability to be a meticulous guardian of ‘the letter’ as well as ‘the spirit’ of Jaques- Dalcroze’ approach is exemplary and is generously given. She well understands the ‘rights and responsibilities’ which she formally signed upon her receipt of the Diplộme.

Some 20 years ago with colleagues from Canada, United Kingdom and Italy she was a Founding member of the joint Dalcroze Eurhythmics International Examination Board, endorsed by the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze Geneva, with responsibility for syllabus, standards and examination criteria.The long hours spent voluntarily assisting this development is hereby acknowledged. It reflects her desire to ensure the word ‘Dalcroze’ is maintained at the global level.

Born in country NSW at Canowindra and educated locally, Sandra was a Prefect and School Captain at Cowra High School 1966. She contributed to school performances and won numerous Eisteddfod piano competitions. The leadership role continued when a resident at Women’s College University of Sydney creating high quality ‘Musicale’ programs for student audiences and deeply involved in the chamber music groups.

Attracted to music from an early age with tutelage from Brigidine Convent Sisters, her student years piano teacher was Anna Elek. At Sydney University her lecturers included Professor Donald Peart, Peter Sculthorpe and Doreen Jacobs  (later Dr Dee Bridges).The latter invited an elderly lady as a guest to present a class ‘with a difference’. This was Miss Heather Gell, who changed Sandra’s approach to music. One Sydney student had described Miss Gell entering a room ‘like a galleon in full sail’ with an armful of hoops and an ancient leather satchel and a large drum in the other hand. Heather Gell OBE was a skilled ABC Schools broadcaster of Music-through-Movement whom Sandra recalled from her primary school days.

For Sandra experiencing whole body movement to the music improvised by Miss Gell, an expert pianist, was a revelation.  Receiving classes from her as an adult student, she realised the powerful approach of Dalcroze Eurhythmics in Music Education and Performance skills. This led to a radical turn in her studies and career.  

Gell invited overseas Dalcroze guest teachers from time to time and in 1973, Elizabeth Vandespar from London, so inspired Sandra that she determined, following her graduation from Sydney University, to undertake full-time studies with her. She gained the professional Dalcroze Licentiate in the UK in 1975 and proceeded to a higher qualification, only possible in Geneva. 

Before returning to Australia Sandra was for two years, Professeur invitée at Laval University, Quebec, Canada. Home in Sydney she became Director of Music, Kambala Girls School, for several years before accepting the position of Director of Music, The MacDonald College of Performing Arts, Strathfield NSW.

Heather Gell was delighted to have her talented, and now well-qualified, student back in Australia and naturally encouraged Sandra to take on more classes with a Dalcroze focus for both adults and children.

A cluster of part-time engagements followed: Teacher of Aural Skills, School of Music, University of NSW; Music Education lecturer, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, in ‘Significant Methods Course’. and the Conservatorium’s Open Academy’s Junior Training Program.

 She co-founded with Alethea Eddy, the Sydney-based “Living Music”  studio, offering young children effective musicianship experiences;  opened a private piano practice,  then spent a number of years as Visiting Specialist, Shore School, Early Learning Centre, North Sydney.

Her thesis for PhD (2011) (Sydney University) was entitled Heather Gell: a Dalcroze influence in Australian music education 1924-1979. 

As an Honorary Member of the inaugural Scientific Committee of the ICDS (International Conference of Dalcroze Studies) from 2012 to 2015 Sandra attended Conferences of ICDS in Coventry, Vienna, Poland and Canada. She has examined candidates and presented at Dalcroze conferences in Switzerland, the UK, the USA,  Thailand, Taiwan , Japan, and Kuala Lumpur 

Dr Nash was honorary supervisor for an advanced Dalcroze teacher in Singapore who was permitted by the I J-D Geneva to co-examine under her authority, as she was in the role of Director of Studies for Dalcroze teacher development programs in Southeast Asia.

She has been a guest presenter for many colleague organisations in Australia: including Piano Teachers’ Associations, Suzuki Educators, Orff Associations, AUSTA (Australian String Teachers), Choral Conductors, Music Therapists, Music Teacher Associations, Dance and Drama teachers. She has also presented numerous Research papers, contributed to Panels and published (refereed) Journals at Conferences both within Australia and abroad (FIER). These have included AARME, (Association of Australian Research in Music Education) ANZARME (Australian and New Zealand Association for Research in Music Education) ASME (Australian Society for Music Education) and ISME (International Society for Music Education.)

This long list of achievements displays Sandra’s commitment and contribution to music education in Australia. Her efforts have left an indelible impression on all who have benefited from her work.