The West Australian Music Teachers’ Association Inc (WAMTA), established in 1910, is the oldest Association of music teachers in Australia. It represents the interests of studio music teachers in the State of Western Australia.
WAMTA's objectives are to:
- promote excellence in the teaching, practice and study of the art of music;
- improve and elevate the technical and general knowledge of persons engaged in, or about to engage in, the music teaching profession;
- support financial members of the Association in their professional role as music teachers;
- maintain a high standard of ethics within the music teaching profession; and
- maintain a Directory of Teachers of Music who are Teaching Members of the Association.
The WA Music Teacher's Association is run by an elected Council and operates according to its Constitution. WAMTA is an independent and apolitical body; it is an incorporated, non-profit professional association, not a union nor a government body.
WAMTA's Role
In Western Australia, there is no award or legislation which covers the activity of private music teaching in a home studio, or studio music teaching in schools or music schools. In this absence, WAMTA fulfils an important role in providing a:
- scale of recommended minimum fees,
- music teacher database, and a
- programme of professional development.
This is not only for Perth music teachers but for teachers throughout Western Australia. Zoom meetings and online recordings are now a regular part of WAMTA's operations to cater for those outside of the Perth metropolitan area.
History of WAMTA
In 1924 the WA Music Teachers’ Association held its first Eisteddfod or Music Festival. This event has been held almost annually ever since. Now known as the Recital and Concerto Competition, it provides the opportunity for young instrumentalists and singers to perform in public in a concert situation.
The 2010 publication “What Harmony is This?”, written by Ronda Jamieson and David Hough, outlines the 100 year history of the Association. This book is available for sale from the WAMTA Secretary.