Tess Hill has been an integral part of the West Australian Music Teachers' Association, and the music teaching profession in WA in general. It was our distinct honour to recognise with Life Membership of WAMTA at our 2024 Annual General Meeting.
Tess's teaching career began as a classroom music teacher, spanning the whole gamut of Primary, Secondary, Special education and Tertiary Education. She joined WAMTA in 1980, and the WAMTA council in 1986.
Upon her graduation from the inaugural course for private piano Teachers at the W.A. Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) with the Diploma of Music Teaching, Tess first established her successful private studio in 1982. Over the course of 40 years, Tess focussed on her special interest of piano pedagogy, encouraging further professional development in new and experienced teachers, until her retirement in 2023.
Tess Hill served as a lecturer in Piano Pedagogy at WAAPA. As a WAMTA council member, she co-wrote the Pedagogy Skills Unit of the WAMTA Correspondence Course. She also examined Teachers for assessment on a regular basis.
Tess become an AMEB Examiner in 1985, and has examined for over 35 years. She has served on the AMEB Advisory Committee for many years. In the early 2000s, Tess co-wrote the AMEB piano syllabus for Preliminary to Fourth Grade, and she designed and wrote the Certificate of Music Teaching syllabus for the AMEB.
Tess regularly presented workshops and seminars for teachers in both the city and country, and is still offering workshops through WAMTA to this day.