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Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)

The Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) is a professional organization dedicated to the support, growth, and development of music-teaching professionals. It provides both a united voice for music teachers worldwide and a powerful alliance with a prestigious and influential group. Currently, the MTNA headquarters are located in the Carew Tower in Cincinnati.

History
The Music Teachers National Association is an American organization founded in 1876 by Theodore Presser, who was both a musician and publisher. MTNA is credited in helping to establish an international pitch scale in 1883 as well as promoting international copyright law and giving official recognition to the American composer. In 1967, the MTNA approved the program for qualified teachers. The MTNA is also known for commissioning compositions by American composers and presenting the annual Distinguished Composer of the Year Award. The association also hold annual competitions for young musicians at the local, state, and national level. Currlently, the organization had approximately 22,000 members, including teachers, performers, and composers, and more that 500 local affiliates. The official journal of the MTNA, American Music Teacher, was first published in 1951.

The MTNA's purpose is to advance the benefit of studying music and music making to society and to support the professionalism of music teachers. The MTNA maintains two subsidiary programs: MTNA Professional Certification Program and the MTNA Foundation Fund. The Professional Certification Program exists to improve the quality of professionalism in applied music teaching and assists the public in identifying proficient music teachers in their communities. The MTNA Foundation Fund supports programs that financially assist teachers and students with educational objectives while supplying an opportunity for individual and corporate support of MTNA and its programs.

Awards and Special Programs
As an association of music teachers, the MTNA's mission is to elevate the professional level and develop the standing of all it's members. MTNA is responsible for disseminating many publications, including books, journals, and pamphlets that have greatly impacted the profession of teaching music. The MTNA also perpetually seeks newly published music and other teaching materials to raise awareness among its members.

The Certification of Teachers
According to the MTNA, "The National Certification Plan is one of the highest importance to the professional welfare of the music teacher, and it provides a means of measuring and recognizing his or her professional growth. It represents almost a century of of consultation and diilleberation on the part of America's musical leaders."

Forums of MTNA
The independent teachers forum of the MTNA was the first established in 1972, at the MTNA Convention in Portland, Oregon. After this initial meeting, IMTF organized different committees on the local and state levels. Their purpose was "To investigate the role of the full time independent teacher in American society today: the problems, advantages, and practices of this group, with the goal of establishing a true profession in this decade."

Multiple forums now exist through the MTNA. They provide an environment for open discussion and the expression of ideas. These forums meet annually at the MTNA conference. These forums include:


 * Arts Awareness & Advocacy


 * Collaborative Performance


 * College Faculty


 * Collegiate Chapters


 * Independent Teachers


 * Local Associations


 * Wellness

"Composer of the Year" Awards
First awarded in 1969, the terms of the "Composer of the Year" Award state that and MTNA affiliated state music teachers association could commission any composer of their choice to compose a work for their state convention. Recording and scores of these works could then be sent to the national headquarters in Cincinnati. From these commissions, one composer is selected each year by a panel of judges to receive the "Distinguished Composer Award," otherwise known as the "Composer of the Year" award.

Advisory Council on Materials
The Advisory Council on Materials was established to provide a degree of coordination between the convention convention participants and the industry exhibitors. The council function is to advise on the location of the exhibits and their hours of operation. These exhibits at conventions allow for members to investigate these new products, including scores, musical instruments, and teaching materials, as well as the option to purchase.

The Development Commission
The Development Commission is responsible for authorizing and supervising the multitude of publications, both large and small, produced by the MTNA. These publications usually fall into two main categories:

1. To expedite the work of the MTNA at assorted levels.

2. Works directed at the general music public, as well as its members.

Category 1 includes:


 * Organization guides for the seven divisions
 * Handbooks for officers of the state music teacher associations
 * The MTNA's Constitution
 * The MTNA's Code of Ethics
 * MTNA brochures about audition procedures and national certification
 * Other various smaller publications

Category 2 includes:


 * Directory of Certified Teachers
 * The Pamphlet, The Private Music Teacher's Blueprint for Survival
 * Various MTNA promotional materials

Distinguished Citation Award
The Distinguished Citation Award is presented to honor individuals who have given their talents, energy, time, and creativity to specialized areas of the MTNA for the betterment of the organization. This award is presented annually at the national convention.

National Conference
The MTNA National Conference, which is held annually, brings together the constituents of the MTNA membership. National competitions highlights the performances of students in all instrument areas, including composition. The national conferences also include master classes, technology and informational sessions, pedagogy sessions, and evening concerts. Members have the opportunity to participate in the national conference by submitting proposals and papers for presentation.

Divisions
During the Chicago convention of 1948, the MTNA Executive Committee established the divisional organizations. Each state was assigned to a particular division, even though the state in question, at the time, may not have had an organized chapter of the MTNA. The Current Divisions are as follows:

East Central Division

 * Illinois
 * Indiana
 * Michigan
 * Ohio
 * Wisconsin

Eastern Division

 * Connecticut
 * Delaware
 * District of Columbia
 * Maryland
 * Massachusetts
 * New Hampshire
 * New Jersey
 * New York
 * Pennsylvania
 * Rhode Island
 * Vermont
 * West Virginia

Northwest Division

 * Idaho
 * Montana
 * Oregon
 * Washington
 * Wyoming

South Central Division

 * Arkansas
 * Louisiana
 * Oklahoma
 * Texas

Southern Division

 * Alabama
 * Florida
 * Georgia
 * Kentucky
 * Mississippi
 * North Carolina
 * South Carolina
 * Tennessee
 * Virginia

Southwest Division

 * Arizona
 * California
 * Hawaii
 * Nevada
 * New Mexico
 * Utah

West Central Division

 * Colorado
 * Iowa
 * Kansas
 * Minnesota
 * Missouri
 * Nebraska
 * North Dakota
 * South Dakota

State Associations
All fifty states and the District of Columbia have affiliations with MTNA. Forty-nine state (forty-eight states, and the District of Columbia) music teachers associations were established between 1876 and 1969. The final two states to be established were Maine in 1976 and Alaska in 1982.