What can it do for you?(Professional Certification)

One day, many years ago in a supermarket parking lot, I ran into an old high school classmate who was then a prominent dentist in our community. He greeted me with, "Hi, Barry, how are you? Are you still teaching piano?" I instinctively replied, "I'm fine thanks, and you? Are you still pulling teeth?" As his face flushed with embarrassment, he took one foot out of his mouth to replace it with the other, saying, "Of course! Why should I consider your profession any less important than mine." It was shortly after this encounter that I became certification chairperson for the New York State MTA.

I've heard many concerns about certification, and the need for certification. To answer some of these concerns, we should first look at a definition of "certification." Literally, it means "to make certain, to attest to one's competency in any occupation." When it has been attested to, and when enough of us have achieved certification, then, and only then, can we regard ourselves as recognized professionals. Until that time, we each exist in our own small sphere of professionalism, respected only by those who speak our language and share our knowledge. To the general public, who most need our services, we remain isolated, unidentifiable people, who, for some reason or another, teach music. For me that is not enough. I want the respect for my profession to be in direct proportion to the dedication I have ...