Professional Certification

American Music Teacher, Oct-Nov, 2004 by Deborah Hadfield

"One more practical advantage of certification is that many conscientious parents or adult beginners may consult the listing of NCTMs on the MTNA website when seeking a teacher. This potential means of attracting students is especially valuable to those at the outset of their careers, since they have not yet had time to generate the invaluable 'word-of-mouth' referrals that sustain studios over the long haul."

Brent Hugh, NCTM, assistant professor and coordinator of piano pedagogy, Missouri Western State College, St. Joseph, Missouri:

"Recently, we created a Piano Pedagogy Certificate program at Missouri Western State College. This was a way of formally recognizing me work of our music majors who take piano pedagogy classes. Participate a supervised teaching experience and spend two or three years teaching community music students during their undergraduate years.

"As we were developing this program, we realized that our students were already doing everything they needed to do to be ready for MTNA certification--except filling out the paperwork and taking the test.

"So we wrote MTNA Professional Certification into our Pedagogy Certificate program. During their senior year, students must complete the application for MTNA Certification and, if possible, take the Certification Examination.

"As we launched the Pedagogy Certificate program, we clarified mat music majors who teach in our community arts school are expected to join the St Joseph Area Music Teachers Association, participate in its meetings, enter their students in sponsored events and participate in pedagogy-related e-mail lists or chat groups.

"These programs have always been available for our student teachers. But when we clearly articulated our expectation that student teachers and their students participate, participation skyrocketed, with predictably positive results.

"Music majors earn a lot about performing and teaching music from their classes and experiences in school. But we feel that among the most important things they learn are not facts, out attitudes: a professional attitude towards music teaching, a dedication To high standards in both performance and teaching, a willingness to explore new ideas and different viewpoints, an interest in associating with colleagues, a positive relationship with the greater community and a dedication to life-long learning.

"Belonging to MTNA and preparing for MTNA Professional Certification are among the most important tools we have to help students foster these important attitudes."

Diane Delk, NCTM, adjunct instructor of piano, Montgomery College, Conroe, Texas:

"Montgomery College in Conroe, Texas, is adopting a new program to promote higher quality in piano instruction and to advocate MTNA Professional Certification. The course will be presented through the Continuing Education Department and will follow certain guidelines for Texas courses that are considered to be postgraduate continuing education courses.

"Teachers can earn CEUs from some organizations for courses of this type, and the goal of the course is to reinforce certification renewals by making workshops that are enjoyable and helpful to teachers readily available and to promote certification by including the Certification Examination preparation materials in the second half of the course. We are hoping that those students enrolled in the two sessions of the course will be ready for the certification exams.