A sound package

A three-year partnership between Woodside Energy and the West Australian Music Industry Association (WAM) has provided students in regional and remote areas access to contemporary music.  

The regional school program started in 2003 and has delivered music workshops and concerts to about 45,000 primary and secondary school students.

Woodside corporate affairs officer Sasha Pendal said WAM’s proposal of a partnership appealed to Woodside due to its focus on music and music education.

“The partnership was intended to bring music to young people and teach the opportunity to engage with music professionals,” she said.

While the Pilbara is an area of particular interest to Woodside, the program operates at schools around the state, from Esperance to Karratha.

Teachers receive an education music package prior to the workshop, including sheet music and CDs, to engage students and ensure the workshop is more meaningful.

“It’s about personal contact, improving education and understanding,” Ms Pendal said.

About 70 schools participate annually, with 20 workshops planned for regional areas next year.

The WAM workshop team comprises a full-time education officer, indigenous officer and regional officer, as well as the band, technical crew and a few volunteers.

Woodside contributes funding and in-kind support to the partnership, as well as delegating an employee to promote the partnership within the organisation.

WAM’s marketing and sponsorship manager, Jason Brice, said the workshops raised awareness among students of contemporary music and associated careers within the music industry, in areas such as sound engineering and lighting.

“It’s developing our future audience and it’s developing our future industry,” he said.