Rise to professionalism.(In Unison)

There is a story Naomi Judd told in Love Can Build a Bridge about the stormy relationship between mother and daughter.

 
   "Before a 1984 show in 
   Denver, Wynona and I were 
   fighting because she had forgotten 
   her outfit. We were mere 
   minutes from show time ... and 
   we were nearly close to blows 
   when our manager, Ken Stilts, 
   stepped in. 
 
   'Ladies,' he intoned, 'there are 
   several thousand people out 
   there who've paid money to hear 
   you tonight. You must decide 
   whether you're going to rise to professionalism 
   or be a disappointment 
   to everyone, including me.' 
 
   Ken's calm manner struck a 
   nerve. Suddenly Wy and I recognized 
   that if we were to survive, 
   we would have to feel a responsibility 
   to our fans." 

As individual teachers, and as an association, we must always "rise to professionalism" and fulfill our responsibilities to our clientele---our students and parents. Parents are much more aware of what they want in education for their children, especially parents who home school their children. They look for the teacher who can provide the education they are seeking for their children, which may include not only traditional classical music instruction but also improvisation, composition, jazz studies and knowledge of electronic music instruments.

We must make our students' music study meaningful and essential to their total educational experience. We must find ways to ensure music will become a source of joy, fulfillment, education and, yes--even fun--during their student years, as well as during their adult years. We are building not only for today, but also for tomorrow's future musicians, music lovers and music supporters.

The MTNA Certification Program is an exceptional venue for advancing our professionalism as individuals and as an association. If we are going to continue to attract students to the study of music, we have to be the very best we can be. Just as a composer carefully writes and then reworks the details of a piece of music, we too must rework, reassess and rethink our teaching credentials, develop new areas of teaching expertise and find ways to constantly reach for higher standards in all we do.

MTNA Certification has continued to evolve since its formal national inception in 1965. Prior to that, historical data reveals that "at least eight state MTAs emerged with workable certification plans in the thirty years between 1890 and 1920. According to available records, the plan of the Washington MTA was accepted by that state's Board of Education in 1921; and Washington may have been the first state to provide for state certification of private teachers." (Homer Ulrich, A Centennial History of the Music Teachers National Association, p. 158)

Pat Tuley, chair of the MTNA National Certification Commission, states, "The National Certification Commission has worked carefully and diligently to develop all the necessary components for operating a philosophically and financially sound MTNA Professional Certification Program. Since January 2000, a set of five teaching standards and a program philosophy have been developed and approved, which provide a strong philosophical foundation on which the program can exist and grow. Certification Examinations for eighteen of the twenty-one different performance areas are in place. Members may now access any of the Program's literature online. ...