When joining the West Australian Music Teachers' Association, there are 5 categories of membership available to choose from, according to age, experience and qualifications. These are:
- Friend of WAMTA (Companion member)
- Student member
- Provisional member
- Teaching member
- Accredited Teaching member
Longstanding WAMTA Teaching members who retire but wish to retain links with WAMTA can move to Retired membership. This provides similar benefits to Companion membership but at a cheaper rate.
Please note that the specific requirements for the membership categories above call for the following:
- Performance and Theory / Musicianship / Music Craft levels at a given AMEB or equivalent grade.
- A documented history of successful teaching may include:
- references from appropriately qualified music educators, examination results from a recognised examination board,eisteddfod and competition reports,
- evidence of scholarships and other awards received by students.
- Evidence of ongoing professional development in music teaching:
- includes providing personalised certificates specifying hours of instruction completed in courses such as Kodaly, Orff, Dalcroze, Yamaha and Suzuki Teaching, or other PD workshops and conferences as approved by the WAMTA Council.
- “Ongoing” means a minimum of 4 hours of development per calendar year.
- Neither enrolment in a tertiary music degree nor undertaking regular lessons qualify as ongoing professional development.
Accredited Teaching Membership requirements
The qualifications for accreditation require one or more of the following:
- Degree or diploma in music teaching or music education from a recognised tertiary institution
- Diploma in music teaching from a recognised examination board (such as the AMEB's ATMusA)
- Degree in education with a major in music from a recognised tertiary institution
- Degree in music (without a teaching component) from a tertiary institution PLUS either (a) a documented history of successful teaching at Grades 5 and above OR (b) evidence of ongoing professional development in music teaching
- Certificates and equivalent courses specialising in music teaching as approved by Council PLUS a documented history of successful teaching at Grade 5 and above.
Accredited membership may also be offered at the discretion of the Council based on evidence of successful teaching at Grades 5 and above, ongoing professional development and references where appropriate.
The minimum performance level is a Diploma level qualification such as AMusA, DipABRSM, ATCL etc.
Members may join at a lower level and work their way up to Accredited Teaching membership.
Ongoing professional development is not required, but is recommended.
Teaching Membership requirements
Teaching members enjoy full ("ordinary") membership of the Association.
Ongoing professional development is not required, but is recommended.
Provisional Membership requirements
Provisional membership is not a full level of membership, but an "associate" category which does not convey voting rights.
As the name suggests, "Provisional" membership is limited to 3 years, during which time the members must be actively working towards qualifying for Teaching Membership.
Proof of ongoing professional development is a requirement of continued membership at this level.
Failure to qualify for Teaching Membership after 3 years of provisional membership, or not providing evidence of professional development completed each year, will result in membership being downgraded to Companion (Friend of WAMTA) level.
Student Membership requirements
Student membership is not a full level of membership, but an "associate" category which does not convey voting rights.
It available to full time students who are currently studying towards a music or music teaching degree or diploma at a recognised tertiary institution. Taking individual lessons with a pedagogy specialist does not qualify for student membership.
A current proof of enrolment plus current student ID are required annually to remain eligible. Failure to provide these within 1 month of the new academic year starting will cause membership to downgrade to Companion (Friend of WAMTA) level.
Ongoing professional development in addition to the enrolled studies is mandatory to retain membership at this level.
Friend of WAMTA (Companion Membership) requirements
Companion membership is not a full level of membership, but an "associate" category which does not convey voting rights.
Membership as a "Friend of WAMTA" is available to any person who shows a genuine interest in supporting the Association and its objects.
Companion members will receive the quarterly bulletin “Presto”, member discounts and all relevant eNews notifications and updates.