NRS-10646 | Australian Music Examinations Board files

The Australian Music Examinations Board is a federal organisation formed by agreement between a number of State bodies. The constituent State bodies are the Ministry of Education, New South Wales, the Victorian College of the Arts, the Department of Education, Queensland, and the Universities of Adelaide, Western Australia and Tasmania. The AMEB has a federal board which consists of the Chairmen from each of the six State boards, and meets annually. Despite the existence of the federal body, which sets the national examination standards and syllabuses in music and speech, most of the close contact with teachers and students occurs at state level. The State bodies also handle the practical administration of examinations. These files described here were used initially by the Conservatorium of Music and later by the Music Examinations Advisory Board. These files consist of: copies of syllabuses; minutes and agenda of federal Australian Music Examinations Board meetings; minutes of Music Examinations Advisory Board Meetings; correspondence regarding the signing of AMEB agreements between the States; executive appointments; introduction of new fields of study; correspondence relating to the abolition of marks and the introduction of a system of graded assessment; correspondence relating to the awarding of scholarships; correspondence relating to the AMEB television series; correspondence relating to assistance from the Australia Council; and Ministerial representations. Correspondence with noted musicians such as Don Andrews and Roger Woodward also feature among the material. (12/12960-72). 13 boxes.Note: This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.