A welcome step forward: reflections on the AMEB Piano Series 19 Professional Development Day
- Feb 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 18
On Sunday 15 February 2026, I attended the AMEB Piano Series 19 NSW Professional Development Day — expertly put together by Anthony van den Broek, with the generous support of Kawai and AMEB Ltd and endorsed by The Music Teachers’ Association of NSW as a key professional development event for teachers in 2026. It was a full day of learning, discussion, demonstrations and connection with colleagues, and I left feeling genuinely encouraged about where we are heading.
Led by series consultant Angela Turner, the day explored the new Piano Series 19 syllabus through live demonstrations, performances and masterclasses. We were guided through repertoire choices, technical expectations and assessment priorities across all levels, from Preliminary right through to Grade 8. There was practical insight for both teachers and examiners, and a strong sense of shared purpose in the room.
But what struck me most — and what I want to reflect on here — was the extraordinary care and intention behind this new series.
Angela poured her heart into walking us through the selection process. It was clear that this repertoire has not been assembled lightly. There has been deep thought about pedagogy, musical integrity, accessibility, and, importantly, representation.
Angela Turner. Image 1 source: angelaturner.net. Image 2: Justin McKee
After many years of what could sometimes feel like “the same”, we are finally seeing a syllabus that more fully reflects the richness of our musical landscape.
Series 19 is groundbreaking in a number of ways. For the first time, we see works by First Nations Australian composers included in the piano syllabus. Lists C and D have more female composers represented than ever before. There is stronger representation of the multicultural community that makes up so many of our piano students across Australia. We see composers from across the Asia-Pacific region — including Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, New Zealand and beyond.
This is not change for the sake of change. It feels thoughtful. It feels deliberate. And it feels overdue in the best possible way.
As a teacher, I cannot overstate how meaningful this is.
When students see themselves reflected in the music they play — whether culturally, geographically, or through broader representation — something shifts. Engagement deepens. Curiosity grows. Conversations open up. It also broadens the artistic experience for all students, allowing them to explore a wider palette of sounds, styles and stories.
From a purely practical perspective, the diversity within List A and List B offers a much broader depth of appeal. For many students, this may make the AMEB Comprehensive pathway even more attractive, rather than feeling the need to default to Piano for Leisure in order to find repertoire that resonates. That can only be a positive for teachers and students alike.
Importantly, this feels like an evolution — not a rejection of the past, but a natural expansion. The core pedagogical strengths of the AMEB syllabus remain. The musical standards remain high. What has grown is the scope of whose voices are included within that framework.
And that is something worth celebrating.
Hats off to Angela Turner for the incredible inroads she has made toward increasing inclusion and diversity within the AMEB syllabus. It takes courage, persistence and vision to shape a series like this, and the care behind it was evident throughout the day.
Thank you as well to Anthony van den Broek and the sponsors Kawai and AMEB Ltd and the supporting organisations BlitzBooks and Music on the Move for staging such a thoughtful and energising event, an event endorsed as a key professional development opportunity in 2026 by the MTA NSW.
If Series 19 is any indication of where we are heading, I am genuinely excited. It feels like a syllabus that reflects what the Australian music landscape looks like in 2026 — and, in many ways, what it has looked like for decades.
For our students.
For our teachers.
For the future of piano education in Australia.
I think, all round, it is wonderful. Justin McKee, MMTA
Piano teacher, adjudicator and teacher trainer in neurodivergent-inclusive practice mjmslessons@gmail.com
0404 824 020
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