Why should YOU become a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music?
As the Washington State Music Teachers Association National Certification Chair, it’s my joy to work with teachers on their five teacher profile projects. I love reading how each teacher expresses their heart for teaching and goals for their students through their Teaching Philosophy. It’s remarkable to see teachers dive deeper into the questions of, “what do I teach, who do I teach, and why do I teach.” The first project alone reminds teachers of their purpose in choosing a vocation in music education. Over the next four projects, teachers share how they teach different styles of music, record a few lessons with a student to show progression of learning a piece, share information about their studio, and respond to prompts regarding ethics in music education. These five projects give you prompts to invest in your students and evaluate how you can give them the best, well rounded, music education as a Professional Music Teacher.
Go ahead and treat yourself to a coffee or tea then come back to this post to get started!
As the Washington State Music Teachers Association National Certification Chair, it’s my joy to work with teachers on their five teacher profile projects. I love reading how each teacher expresses their heart for teaching and goals for their students through their Teaching Philosophy. It’s remarkable to see teachers dive deeper into the questions of, “what do I teach, who do I teach, and why do I teach.” The first project alone reminds teachers of their purpose in choosing a vocation in music education. Over the next four projects, teachers share how they teach different styles of music, record a few lessons with a student to show progression of learning a piece, share information about their studio, and respond to prompts regarding ethics in music education. These five projects give you prompts to invest in your students and evaluate how you can give them the best, well rounded, music education as a Professional Music Teacher.
Go ahead and treat yourself to a coffee or tea then come back to this post to get started!
Why MTNA Professional Certification?
For MTNA:
- Fosters excellence in music education through the development of criteria, standards, and guidelines for assessing educational competencies in performance, music theory, music history/literature, and pedagogy/teacher education.
- Assures the educational community, the general public, and other agencies or organizations that the MTNA Professional Certification Program for applied music teachers has been clearly defined with appropriate objectives.
- Provides a national forum for the discussion and consideration of concerns relevant to the preservation and advancement of standards in the field of music and music education.
- Develops a national unity and strength for the purpose of maintaining the position of music study in the family of fine arts and humanities and providing qualified teachers to guide that study.
- Sets a uniform national minimum standard of achievement without restricting the development of new ideas, experimentation, or the expansion of personal standards.
For the Music Teacher: (Piano, Voice, Violin, Flute, Organ)
- Offers a process by which teachers may examine and update their libraries, teaching methods, business practices and philosophies.
- Encourages improvement in teaching through continuous self-study and planning.
- Raises the likelihood for a higher level of teacher competency and effectiveness.
- Provides a goal for personal professional achievement for music teachers.
- Increases the potential for earning power for music teachers.
- Improves the level of professionalism within the field of music teaching.
- Identifies for the public competent music teachers.
How Do I Get Started?
- Fill out and mail the Application for MTNA Certification or MTNA Collegiate Certification
- Download the MTNA Project Workbook for Piano, Organ, Flute, Violin, or Voice
- Contact me or your local Certification Chair to request a WSMTA Certification Grant!
- Complete your 5 Teacher Profile Projects within 1 year and submit them to MTNA!
Templates & Resources for MTNA Certification created by Rose Freeman, NCTM:
- 2018 WSMTA Conference Certification Presentation
- Certification Check List
- MTNA Certification Resources
- Project #2 - Analyze Four Teaching Pieces Graph
- Project #2 - Analyze Four Teaching Pieces Outline
- Project #3 - "Present Your Teaching" Sample
- Project #3 - Student Progress Report Template
- Project #3 - Clara Schumann Progress Report Sample
Project #4 - "Inside the Studio" Examples of a positive teaching environment
Documents from MTNA Certification Website: http://mtnacertification.org/
MTNA Certification Application
MTNA Collegiate Certification Application
Piano Project Workbook
Organ Project Workbook
Flute Project Workbook
Violin Project Workbook
Voice Project Workbook
What will evaluators look for in my project?
MTNA Professional Standards
Video Authorization Form
Video tips 1
Video tips 2
Video tips 3
Application for Renewal of MTNA Certification
Professional Renewal Activities Points Form
Certification 101