MTNA CERTIFICATION – ARE YOU CURIOUS?
- Have you thought about pursuing National Teacher of Music Certification?
- Are you curious about what the process entails?
- Do you wonder about the benefits of having the NCTM designation?
Why MTNA Certification?
Certification is a process that validates an individual’s qualifications for a specific field of professional practice. New graduates and teachers, and seasoned professionals alike can benefit from becoming a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM).
MTNA Certification Process
The MTNA Professional Certification program is offered at the state-affiliate level. NCMTA members pursue MTNA Certification with NCMTA. The program exists for teachers who teach music to students of any age level in private or group settings. The program is based upon a set of five standards defining what a competent music teacher should know and be able to do. Upon fulfillment of these standards, applicants are granted the MTNA professional Certification credential with the designation, Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM).
To maintain the MTNA Professional Certification credential and designation, NCTM must continue fulfilling the program’s standards through the renewal process.
Contact me (certification@ncmta.org) with whatever questions you may have!
Diane Blanchard, Certification Chair
All independent studio teachers and college faculty members are encouraged and invited to the process!
Congratulations to 2026 Certified Colleagues!
Dr. Lawrence Quinnett, NCTM, is an active concert pianist who has performed recitals, conducted master classes, and adjudicated competitions in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A supporter of new music, Quinnett has performed in the 2013 New Music Festival and 2012 John Cage Festival at FSU, and participated as both performer and lecturer at the 2013 Ligeti Symposium and Festival, for which he received a unique recognition of excellence.
Quinnett presently teaches as Department Chair and Associate Professor of Piano and Music Theory at Livingstone College. With a published treatise on the etudes of Gyorgi Ligeti, Quinnett has continued to research in the areas of music theory and piano performance. He holds the Doctor of Music (D.M.) degree from Florida State University and was recognized as a “Top Piano Teacher” by Steinway & Sons in 2023.
Dr. Samuel Gingher serves as Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy and Class Piano at East Carolina University, with previous faculty appointments at Northern Arizona University, Millikin University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Bradley University. His research interests include classical piano improvisation pedagogy and the discovery and performance of rare masterworks. Dr. Gingher’s world-premiere recordings of piano trios and four-hand piano fantasies by Carl Czerny are available on the Naxos label.
Dr. Gingher has been the recipient of several awards, including the Krannert Debut Artist Award and first prize in Brevard Music Festival’s Solo Piano Competition. He has
performed and taught at piano and chamber music festivals in Arizona, North Carolina,
Michigan, Illinois, California, West Virginia, Austria and Switzerland. With MTNA, he has served as clinician and adjudicator at conferences in Illinois, New Mexico, Arizona and North Carolina. Dr. Gingher has additional experience with composition, jazz, and audio engineering.
Shandra Love started learning piano at the tender age of eight. She has been performing on piano for the past thirty-five years. She performed at the Kennedy Center’s Millenium Stage back in August 2013. Currently, she is the departmental accompanist at Winston-Salem State University.
For more information on the certification process, VISIT MTNA and LEARN MORE.
Click to find a certified teacher anywhere in the MTNA membership.
