Certificate of Merit (CM) 2021-2022
Registration Deadline: October 31, 2021
Payment Deadline: November 5, 2021
Repertoire (songs) Entry Deadline: January 15, 2022
Media Upload Deadline: February 22, 2022
Eligible and motivated students are encouraged (not required) to participate in the Music Teacher Association of California’s (MTAC) Certificate of Merit (CM) program.
Studio History of CM Success:
2017: 6 students completed
2018: 11 students completed, 7 with honors
2019: 9 students completed, 6 with honors
2020: 10 students completed, 8 with honors
2021: 13 students completed, 12 with honors
2022: Your Student!
This state-wide evaluation is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their skills in piano performance, technique, ear training, sight-reading, and music theory.
Enrollment begins in October. Starting in February, students will be able to upload their performance evaluation videos and take their theory tests online. Your teacher will help you complete this during one of your regularly scheduled lessons or in additional lessons.
Students perform for and receive detailed feedback from a music professor. They will also take a music theory and ear training test.
Our music lessons are generally based on the MTAC curriculum (songs, scales, theory, sight reading, ear training), so many students are already covering the subject matter required for the CM program.
Students will receive a certificate of achievement from the MTAC upon completion. This program is a great addition to a college application, and is also a wonderful opportunity for students to explore a college campus (should the campuses open back up again!), perform for a highly distinguished music professor, and formally validate all of the hard work that they have put into music lessons throughout the year.
CM participants must enroll in 45-minute weekly lessons in order to cover all subject areas. Additional fees apply. For more information, visit www.mtac.org
Mariah Gillespie is the registered MTAC teacher at the studio. All media files will be sent to her at mariah@msmariahsmusic.com for submission and all CM communications will be conducted through her teacher portal. Megan, Sarah, and Kristin have all participated in the CM program with students in the past. Talk to your teacher if you’d like to consider participating!