Music Teaching is an unregulated industry. There are no minimum qualifications required to become a music teacher.
The West Australian Music Teachers’ Association (WAMTA) does require minimal levels of performance and theory of its members, and either a degree in music teaching or evidence of successful teaching and ongoing professional development.
Music Teachers may have degrees in Performance and/or Teaching. Any qualifications listed on a teacher’s profile have been sighted and verified by the WAMTA Council. You can find below what the abbreviated degree names mean.
WAMTA Accredited Teaching Members have higher qualifications than Teaching members, and hold the post nominals “MMTA”. WAMTA used to offer an Accreditation Course which resulted in the awarding of a Diploma of Accreditation on completion, however this is no longer currently available.
Certificates
Certificate of Music
Tertiary level studies of a shorter duration than a Diploma course.
| CertMus(Class) | Certificate of Music (Classical), Edith Cowan University |
Performance Certificate
A Performance Certificate (or Certificate of Performance) is a qualification between a Grade 8 and Associate Diploma level.
Diplomas
Associate Diplomas
Associate Diplomas are a very high level of performance. Associate Diplomas take 1-3 years to complete, and are generally considered to be equivalent to one to two years of study at degree level.
| ALCM | Associate of the London College of Music |
| AMusA | Associate in Music, Australia (AMEB) |
| ARCM | Associate of the Royal College of Music, London |
| ARSM | Associate of the Royal Schools of Music |
| ATCL | Associate of Trinity College, London |
ABRSM has also offered a DipABRSM (Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) between the ARSM and LRSM, which they will be withdrawing.
Licentiate Diplomas
The Licentiate Diploma recognises performance skills well above the requirements for the Associate.
| LMusA | Licentiate in Music, Australia (AMEB) |
| LRSM | Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music |
| LTCL | Licentiate of Trinity College, London |
Fellowship Diplomas
The Fellowship Diploma is the highest level of performance skill, well above the requirements of the Licentiate Diploma.
| FRSM | Fellowship of the Royal Schools of Music |
Teaching Diplomas
Teaching Diplomas typically require the equivalent of 1-2 years of full time study at a tertiary level. Graduate Diplomas are completed after a Bachelor Degree. (Note: WAAPA’s now defunct Diploma of Music Teaching entailed 3 years of full time study)
| DipMusTch | Diploma of Music Teaching |
| DipTch | Diploma of Teaching |
| GradDipEd | Graduate Diploma of Education |
| GradDipTch | Graduate Diploma of Teaching |
Bachelor Degrees
A Bachelor Degree requires 3-4 years of full time study at a recognised tertiary institution. Music is often a major within an Arts degree.
A Bachelor degree with (Hons) denotes an additional Honours year of study.
| BA (Music) | Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Music |
| BEd | Bachelor of Education |
| BMus | Bachelor of Music |
| BMusEd | Bachelor of Music Education |
Masters Degrees
A Masters Degree requires an additional 2 years of full time study after the completion of a Bachelor Degree.
| MA | Master of Arts |
| MMus | Master of Music |