MTNA Collegiate Certification
As an active member of MTNA, I have had the opportunity to assist fellow
members in their certification process as well as become certified myself. As a
certified member, you know how much time and effort must be put forth to
achieve this very worthwhile accomplishment. Just having those four little
letters "NCTM" beside one's name shows a commitment to the profession, a
continued desire to learn and a level of pedagogy that commands respect in the
field.
As a professor of piano pedagogy, I was thrilled to learn that MTNA is now
offering certification to college students. The steps required to achieve
certification have been part of the pedagogy curriculum in colleges and
universities for decades. Giving students the opportunity to gain certification as
they fulfill these college requirements not only stresses the importance of their
current education, it also builds a strong core of new MTNA members who are
dedicated to professional development and the education of generations to
come.
Listed below is an outline that helps my students match their
curriculum/activities to the requirements for the certification portfolio.
PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION
Submit:
college transcripts
programs from required recitals or year-end juries
letters of reference from professors
records from student teaching or graduate assistant work
PROFESSIONAL TEACHING PRACTICES
Submit:
one-semester or two-quarter (14–18 weeks) course of study for
a student of any level that includes:
teaching objectives
nine lesson plans
description of teaching environment
description of assessment and evaluation
Students are probably fulfilling most, if not all, of these requirements as part of
a pedagogy curriculum.
PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Submit:
studio/classroom policies
outline for interview/audition
annual budget
PROFESSIONALISM AND PARTNERSHIPS
Submit:
letters of reference
recital programs
honors/awards received
leadership positions held
The student graduating with National Certification has a great advantage when
beginning a new career as pedagogue. While not every pedagogy curriculum
will fulfill every standard for certification, incorporating the missing elements is
an easy step for the professor and student. Fulfilling requirements as they are
being prepared in college is much easier than waiting until all the "real world"
pressures begin and we all should make an effort to mentor these budding
educators whenever possible.
Consult the MTNA Certification website for all the details about submitting a
certification portfolio.
Andrea McAlister, DMA, NCTM
Oberlin College
Kentucky Music Teachers' Association
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |