Standard I: professional preparation.

I have the privilege of sharing a piano studio with an exceptionally well-trained piano teacher. Veronika Harms is educated in piano, violin and voice. She has a master of music degree in piano performance and pedagogy from Southern Methodist University, Meadows School of the Arts. She studied piano in Salzburg, Austria, for a year at the Mozarteum and has given concerts in Germany, Mexico, Belize, Canada and the United States.

In the summer of 2000, Veronika implemented a music program for YWCA's summer camp for underprivileged children in Lubbock, Texas. Other musical training includes Musikgarten certification. She is a popular adjudicator and has served as pianist for several churches. She enjoys accompanying choirs and orchestras and performing for various social events.

Now in her tenth year of teaching piano, Veronika exemplifies the Professional Certification Teaching Standards. Standard I embodies "What a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) Should Know." Standards II-V embody "What a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music Should Be Able to Do." Veronika's professional training and acquired body of knowledge meet the requirements for fulfilling Standard I: STANDARD I: Professional Preparation

   A. Knowing and Performing Music
   Competent music teachers possess
   a significant understanding
   of and facility on their performing
   instrument(s). They demonstrate
   a specialized knowledge in
   a performance area as they provide
   students with comprehensive,
   sequential instruction. They
   have substantial knowledge of
   music theory, music history/literature
   and pedagogy/teacher
   education.

   B. Knowing and Understanding
   Students

   Competent music teachers have
   knowledge and understanding of
   students' physical, social and
   cognitive growth and their past
   musical experiences. They assimilate
   this knowledge to develop a
   course of study and to prepare
   instruction that meets the needs
   of each student while cultivating
   positive and productive
   relationships.

Observing Veronika's teaching is an inspiration and a joy. Each day she arrives with a plan for each student's lesson. She understands each student's weaknesses and strengths and is an outstanding teacher with students of all ages and levels. Each lesson incorporates theory, improvisation and ear training in a natural, sequential order. Her ability to demonstrate a high level of performance for each instructional piece provides her students with a fine example. Always encouraging, always upbeat--it is easy to understand why she has a waiting list of students.

The question I pose is: Does Veronika need to be a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music? She already has strong credentials. Anyone observing a lesson quickly realizes she is knowledgeable and competent. The process of certification involves expense and time. Even with her extensive qualifications, to become an NCTM Veronika would need to validate the Step I requirements of the certification process to fulfill Standard I. Step 2 would require her to take the Certification Examination to fulfill Standards II, III and IV. This would take time that could be spent increasing her income. She doesn't need "NCTM" on her resume or after her name to obtain students. So why bother? You could say Veronika Harms does not need to be certified.

This past June, Veronika took time away from other activities at the Texas MTA State Convention to take the Certification Examination. Why? She explains, "I became Nationally Certified because to me this raises the bar of professionalism. This means belonging to an organization that represents qualified and competent music teachers throughout the United States."

Thanks to numerous teachers across the country who understand the value of MTNA Professional Certification, the bar of professionalism for competent music teachers is being raised. Some already have degrees in music and the required college semesters in music theory, music history/literature, pedagogy/teacher education and performance. Others are choosing to demonstrate competency by completing the proficiency examinations in one or more of these areas.

In the meantime, parents are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of choosing a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music to guide their children's instruction. Many use the MTNA website to locate a certified teacher. So, as more and more parents begin turning to certified teachers, it becomes increasingly important for teachers to obtain MTNA's Professional Certification.

--Debra Hadfield, NCTM South Central Division Commissioner National Certification Commission