About

The WA AMEB AWARD

Since 1913, the Australian Music Examinations Board WA (AMEB WA) has been the leading provider of music and drama examinations in Western Australia and is affiliated with the University of Western Australia and Western Australian Government through the Department of Education.

The West Australian AMEB Award is an exciting initiative recognising the commitment individuals of all ages make to the performing arts. In either a school or community arts environment, the award acknowledges an individual’s engagement in ensembles, productions and other collaborative activity, whilst advancing their skill development through a recognised program.

Leading arts and cultural organisations as well as the School Curriculum and Standards Authority of Western Australia (SCASA) recognise this award. Students in Years 11 and 12 can use the WA AMEB Award to contribute towards their WACE requirements. Two unit equivalents are allocated for a Bronze Award, three for a Silver Award and four for a Gold Award.

The AMEB AWARD is perfect for those interested in developing skills whilst participating in their collaborative activity of choice.  It’s the best way to improve an ensemble and build new skills!

AWARD STRUCTURE

Bronze, Silver and Gold awards recognise skills developed and the level of participation in performances, broadening activities, and examined skill development. 

What Happens?

The award program has three easy components:

1. Engagement in Performing Arts

• Participating Individuals record their engagement in various activities in the AMEB Award Diary.  Upon completion, diaries are submitted to the AMEB (WA).
• An appropriate performing arts director or facilitator (eg., a school’s Head of Arts; an Ensemble Director; Community Arts Group President; or Artistic Director) verify activities recorded by a participant, signing off on the activity.
• School and/or Community Public Performances and/or other broadening activities are completed within the year of enrolment. Diaries are distributed after registration.

2. Broadening Activities

• The WA AMEB Award recognises and builds active participation in the running of ensembles and other arts-based activity.
• This could be as easy as consistently helping with the set-up of a group, participating in workshops or meetings, assisting with marketing and community minded activity. See appendix 2.

3. Up Skill

• Whilst participating in a collaborative activity of choice, participants develop their skills through the vehicle of AMEB exams. 
• The AMEB is Australia’s leading music and speech and drama assessment service offering internationally recognised qualifications, syllabuses, supporting publications and graded examinations from preliminary through to diploma levels. Catering for diverse creative preferences, AMEB inspires learning and supports achievement across a broad range of musical instruments, singing, speech and drama and theory; and provides specialist teaching qualifications.
• Dependent on the level of award selected, the participant undertakes examinations that recognise an important skill development.
• Practical examinations must be completed within the 12-month registration period.

When you complete:

Awardees will be presented with a certificate and pin to be awarded at their School of Community Group.

HOW TO ENTER

Standard Fee: $50
Diaries must be submitted within 12 months of commencement of program
Queries: amebwa@uwa.edu.au

AWARD REQUIREMENTS

SIGN OFF | WHAT IS REQUIRED FROM A PERFORMING ARTS FACILITATOR?

• Ideally, this is a very simple task.
• An Arts Facilitator verifies activities a participant has listed and confirms all of the requirements of the award are completed.
• If any clarification is required, support is available at amebwa@uwa.edu.au

APPENDIX ONE

PUBLIC PERFORMANCES

Performances may include items in concerts, recitals, plays, school assemblies or any similar activities to which members of the school community and/or the general public are invited.

A public performance may include such things as:

• Cast of a school/class/year group drama production.
• Cast of a drama group production – external from school.
• Public speaking events and opportunities.
• Mock trials/debating.
• Music and/or Speech and Drama Eisteddfod or Festival.
• Choir performances – either large choir or chamber choir.
• Solo performance opportunities.
• Class performance opportunities.
• Band performances.
• Orchestra performances.
• Chamber ensemble performances.

Any other relevant activities

• Detail of activity are to be provided as directed in the AWARD Diary.
• An appropriate organizer to endorse this entry.

Local Community Performance Opportunities:

• Performances in the local community are recognised in this category.
• The director or president of the organizing community group is qualified to sign off on entries.

APPENDIX 2

BROADENING ACTIVITIES (including Leadership activities for the GOLD Award)

Broadening activities may include:

• Consistently setting up and clearing away after a music or drama rehearsal. Activity could include regular setting up/clearing away of music stands, percussion instruments, and setting up/clearing away costumes/props etc.
• Organizing, or assisting in the organization of, a concert/play or series of concerts/plays.
• Assisting in the marketing or promotion of a concert/play or series of concerts/plays.
• Assisting with the ticket sales for a school event.
• Being a member of the stage or production crew for a production (including make-up, lighting, property crew, costume assistance, selling and distributing programs etc.).
• Reading or narrating at a school assembly or appropriate religious service (several readings would be required here, or alternatively, a single reading could be combined with other activities to reach the minimum number of hours).
• Acting regularly as an accompanist or playing the piano/or other instrument for a school assembly or religious service.
• Performing as a soloist in music or drama activities (in a different event/capacity than is listed in Section 2).
• Performing in a Music group performance (in a different event/capacity than is listed in Section 2).
• Assisting as an usher or in the canteen for a school arts-related event.
• Participating in debating, mock trials (in a different event/capacity than is listed in Section 2).
• Organizing online concerts, or assisting in editing or producing videos of arts-related activities/events.
• Regularly assisting to organize music scores or library content for Music or Drama Department (over several weeks).
• Assisting teachers in organizing documents for performances or class activities.
• Designing posters/advertisements and distributing these for performances.
• Any other regular contributory activity deemed by the school to be of value in the Arts subject area (please provide details).

FOR THE GOLD AWARD: Leadership activities include:

• Being a section leader in a large or small music ensemble (band, orchestra, chorale or any other ensemble).
• Assisting younger/less experienced musicians with their music parts.
• Assisting younger/less experienced drama students with their music parts.
• Forming and regularly rehearsing with a music or drama group.
• Holding a significant office in the school environment (e.g., music/drama captain or vice-captain).
• Being a committee member for a school arts group/committee.
• Significant mentoring of younger students in arts-related activities.
• Showing initiative regularly in the arts environment at school.
• Any other regular leadership activity deemed by the school to be of significance (please provide details).

*There is a minimum hours set for these activities. The activities may be completed within less than the suggested period of three school terms.

• Bronze: 6 hours over at least three terms (At least 2 hours per term).
• Silver: 15 hours over at least three terms (At least 5 hours per term).
• Gold: 17 hours over at least three terms (At least 5.5 hours each term – combined Broadening and Leadership activities).

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