Professional Certification

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

"The course is designed to consist of two sessions. The first will cover many issues in piano pedagogy and studio management in a sixteen class-hour seminar format. Students will be presented with a number of teaching strategies, discuss their own teaching practices and develop lists of materials and resources to use in their own teaching. The students will be encouraged to learn from each other as well as from the class presenters.

"The second session will also be sixteen actual class hours and will delve into the teaching issues in greater depth with role playing, sample teaching and 'what-if' sessions designed to give hands-on experience in a variety of situations. In addition, students needing to take the proficiency exams will be provided with and guided through the materials needed to pass these exams.

"In the community college setting, we have students of a wide variety of ages and life experiences. We have a new MTNA collegiate chapter on campus, and through the collegiate chapter and the community education courses, the goal is that each person who graduates from this college and becomes an independent music teacher will become nationally certified.

"This is a great adventure--what MTNA teacher would not relish the opportunity to meet with other dedicated teachers of various levels of experience and exchange ideas! As in many teaching situations, I expect that the teachers and presenters will also learn and grow in this setting."

Scott McBride Smith, NCTM, President, International Institute for Young Musicians, Irvine, California:

"I'll never forget buying my first condominium. A self-employed independent piano teacher, I had been scrimping and saving for several years. This was back in the bad old days of high interest rates, so I had to prepare carefully. The down payment was ready, I was pre-approved for a mortgage loan, and after several weeks of looking, I had found the place of my dreams--or at least one I could afford.

"Imagine my chagrin when, after a full-price offer, I was turned down. Why? The sellers didn't believe that an independent piano teacher could make enough money to make the monthly payments. 'It's really more of a hobby, isn't it?' the husband asked, then added, 'I don't think people are very serious about music study any more.'

"Luckily, most Americans today don't agree with him. In a recent Gallup poll, sponsored by the National Association of Music Merchants, 80 percent agreed that music making improves intelligence. A whopping 96 percent believe that participating in a school band is a good way to develop teamwork skills. Americans want music in their communities.

"We independent music teachers are proud of our contributions to our neighborhoods. We teach the choir accompanists and band players who make school music programs a success. We instruct the soloists who play in church or temple talent shows. We mentor the prodigies whose accomplishments bring pride and recognition to everyone--and we do it without raising taxes one red cent!