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Certificate of Merit FAQ
QUESTIONS
WHEN: 1. When does the CM registration open, and how do I register my student? 2. When does the CM registration close? 3. When are CM fees are due to the Branch Treasurer? 4. When is the deadline to change a student from Path A to Path B? 5. When can I enter my students' repertoire online? 6. When is the deadline for repertoire entry? 7. When are the SF Branch CM dates?
WHAT/WHO: 8. What is the CM age limit? 9. Whom do I contact when I have a question/What is the Line of Communication? 10. I am new to the CM evaluation program. Whom shall I contact first and how & where can I find out detailed information? 11. What causes a student to receive "Ineligible for Certificate?" And what is the differences between RAL (Remain at Level) and IC (Ineligible for Certificate)?
REPERTOIRE: 12. Which Syllabus do we use for 2011-2012 CM? 13. Where can I find out information about improvisation? 14. Should students take repeats during the CM evaluation? 15. What are common repertoire errors? 16. How many movements may be performed for sonatas and sonatinas, or baroque suites? 17. What if I want my student to play a Prelude and Fugue? Can the student play both? 18. Do the students have to play entire variations? 19. Can my student play all three dances from "Three Fantastic Dances", Op. 5 by Dmitri Shostakovich on Festival Recitals since all three may be performed in less than 5 minutes? 20. What length of pieces should be performed in the CM evaluations? 21. What happens if the total repertoire time is close to the time limit, and in the evaluation not all the music can be heard? Will my student be penalized? 22. A piece of music I selected is not in the syllabus. I am not sure in which level this piece belongs. 23. How does a teacher know if a method book piece or any piece is appropriate for CM or a Convention Recital? 24. I have a question related to downloading pieces of music from the Internet. This website allows free downloads, but doesn't provide source or permission that it is okay to download and print for free. Therefore, the evaluator has no way to distinguish the difference between the downloaded/printed music from illegally photocopied music. BRANCH HONORS RECITAL: 25. My student received a 5- on their evaluation and above 80% on theory, excellent or good in technique and sight reading. Is my student eligible for the branch honors recital? 26. When and where will the branch honors recital be held? CONVENTION: 27. What are the different recital categories at the Convention, and how do you apply? 28. Are there time limits for Convention recitals? 29. What is the Convention Theme Recital for 2012? 30. Can my student perform both a Bach Prelude and Fugue on a Convention Festival Recital when together they are under the 5 minute time limit? 31. How are the Convention Recital Application Fees to be paid? 32. How are students chosen for the Convention Intermediate Master Class? PANEL and YAG: 33. What is Panel Audition? 34. How is my student able to perform in the non-Panel convention Recitals if my student is not selected for any of the three Award Panel divisions, (1) Panel Honors, (2) Panel Master Class, or (3) Young Artist Guild Recital? 35. When will I know the panel audition date? 36. Whom shall I contact for my questions regarding the panel? MISCELLANEOUS: 37. I read that teachers should make a copy of the student's theory test and evaluation form. Does that mean to take a copy of the entire 8-12 page test or just the score of the test? Does this apply to all students, or only those in high school or those being considered for Convention recitals?
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| ANSWERS |
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| WHEN: |
| 1. | Q: When does the CM registration open, and how do I register my student? |
| A: CM registration opens on Sept. 15, 2011. Go to www.mtac.org. On the top left side, click MTAC Login. Type in your Username & Password. (If you are new member or forgot password, contact SF Branch CM chair, Janis Lee at cm.piano@yahoo.com) Choose CM Students, select Re-enroll Student or New Student Registration. Follow the instructions - please note that the student's birthdates are required! More information at Manual for Teachers and read the CM Registration Instructions | |
| 2. | Q: When does the CM registration close? |
| A: CM registration closes on Nov. 15, 2011 (No Exceptions!) | |
| 3. | Q: When are CM fees are due to the Branch Treasurer? |
| A: Due on Nov. 16, 2011. Mail to: Keiko Banks, 138 18th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121 (These instructions are always included in the Dear Teachers letter every September) | |
| 4. | Q: When is the deadline to change a student from Path A to Path B? |
| A: Jan. 15th is the last day to change students to Path B | |
| 5. | Q: When can I enter my students' repertoire online? |
| A: Jan. 2, 2012 | |
| 6. | Q: When is the deadline for repertoire entry? |
| A: Feb.5, 2012 | |
| 7. | Q: When are the SF Branch CM Evaluation dates? |
| A: Day 1 on March 24, 2012 (Sat) for Keyboard and Strings at SF State University. Day 2 on April 1, 2012 (Sun) for Keyboard and Winds at SF State University. |
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| WHAT/WHO: |
| 8. | Q: What is the CM age limit? | ||||
| A: Students must be age 5 or older as of Nov. 5, 2011 to participate in Path A. There is no age limit for Path B. | |||||
| 9. | Q: Who do I contact when I have a question/What is the Line of Communication? | ||||
A: When you have
some questions regarding CM evaluations, you should follow the following
order. CM questions should not be directed to the State Office or State
Board.
The Line of Communication Chart
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10.
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Q: I am new to the CM evaluation program. Whom shall I contact first and how & where can I find out detailed information? | ||||
| A: Contact the San Francisco Branch CM chair first. (Janis Lee) She will give you the login ID and password for the MTAC State website, to login. Go to Certificate of Merit and read the Certificate of Merit explanation page. Go back to the previous page and click the MTAC Login (Top left). You can find detailed CM detailed information at CM Resources/CM Help, CM Documents, and in the CM newsletters. | |||||
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11.
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Q: What causes a student to receive "Ineligible for Certificate?" And what is the difference between RAL (Remain at Level) and IC (Ineligible for Certificate)? | ||||
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A: Remain at Level Rating (RAL), Path A: The Remain at Level rating (RAL) means that a student may not progress to a higher CM Level at his or her next CM Evaluation. A CM Student who receives an RAL rating at a Path A CM Performance Evaluation or Theory Examination, must pass Path A of the same CM Level in Performance and Theory, in order to progress to a higher CM Level on their next CM Evaluation. Students who receive an RAL rating may not repeat the Evaluation in the same CM Evaluation year. (Read details at CM Polices 2011-2012, sec. 4, B. Evaluation Results, page 9) |
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Student shall receive an Automatic
Remain at Level for any one of the following:
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| Reasons for Ineligible for Certificate (IC): The Ineligible for Certificate rating shall be used for students who perform a proficient CM Performance Evaluation, but who have violated rules and regulations not related to performance quality. Students who receive an IC rating are permitted to move to a higher CM Level at their next Performance Evaluation, but may not perform at Convention or Branch Honors Recitals. However, they may still be eligible for a Senior Award. | |||||
Students shall receive an IC rating
for any one of the following:
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| REPERTOIRE: |
| 12. | Q: Which Syllabus do we use for 2011-2012 CM? |
| A: Piano 2007 edition, Strings 2006 edition, Wind 2011 edition (NEW). Please aware of the CM Addendum #1 & #2 for 2007 Piano Syllabus & CM 2012, Addendum #3 for Piano Syllabus. Write the corrections on your syllabus. | |
| 13. | Q: Where can I find out information on Improvisation? |
| A: For the optional part of CM Evaluation for piano students, materials can be ordered from the State Office: "The Improvisation Syllabus and Guide," and "Games and Activities for Improvisation". For more information, see optional CM Improvisation. | |
| 14. | Q: Should students take repeats during the CM evaluation? |
| A: Repeats are not recommended unless they will make the music sound excessively disjointed. Students should not take sonata exposition repeats, nor repeats of baroque movements unless there will be ornamentation on the repeat. D.C. al fine sections may be performed. | |
| 15. | Q: What are common repertoire errors? |
A: Here are a few details to
keep in mind when picking repertoire:
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16.
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Q: How many movements may be performed for sonatas and sonatinas, or baroque suites? |
| A: Only one movement of a sonata or sonatina, or a baroque suite, will be heard by the evaluator. | |
| 17. | Q: What if I want my student to play a Prelude and Fugue? Can the student play both? |
| A: The student may prepare either the Prelude or the Fugue. The evaluator will hear only the Prelude or the Fugue, but not both. | |
| 18. | Q: Do the students have to play entire variations? |
| A: NO. You are allowed to choose a few variations. | |
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19.
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Q: Can my student play all three dances from "Three Fantastic Dances", Op. 5 by Dmitri Shostakovich on Festival Recitals since all three may be performed in less than 5 minutes? |
| A: No. The rule states, "one piece from a collection" regardless of the time limit. The student must choose one of the three dances. | |
| 20. | Q: What length of pieces should be performed in the CM evaluations? |
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A: It is best to choose pieces that when considered as a group, will fit within the evaluation time length. Include technique & sight-reading also in the evaluation time length. For example, if the total time is 20 minutes, and 5 minutes are allotted for technical requirements (plus a couple of minutes for sight-reading), keep the time for performing the pieces to 12 minutes or less. |
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| 21. | Q: What happens if the total repertoire time is close to the time limit, and in the evaluation not all the music can be heard? Will my student be penalized? |
| A: It is best to try and stay within the time limit; the evaluator will appreciate it! | |
| 22. | Q: A piece of music I selected is not in the syllabus. I am not sure in which level this piece belongs. |
| A: It is better not to select any questionable pieces for the evaluations. | |
| 23. | Q: How does a teacher know if a method book piece or any piece is appropriate for CM or a Convention Recital? |
| A: CM Council cannot answer every repertoire question, nor is it possible to contact every Evaluator with the input. So if you are having some doubt about a piece, do not use it for CM. Save the piece for your studio recital or branch event. If you are hesitant about using a piece, don't take the risk. In general, method book pieces are not acceptable for CM. However, some pieces in method books are original pieces by composers listed in the syllabus, and are probably included in other classical collections. Those pieces are fine. Also pay close attention to the copyright date of pieces for New Materials. The original copyright date must fall within the ten year limit, not when it was last edited. (Bach is still being edited and is NOT New Materials). | |
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24.
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Q: I have a question related to downloading pieces of music from the Internet. This website allows free downloads, but doesn't provide source or permission that it is okay to download and print for free. Therefore, the evaluator has no way to distinguish the difference between the downloaded/printed music from illegally photocopied music. |
A: CM Policy must be followed
and the teacher must provide proof of legal ownership.
|
| BRANCH HONORS RECITAL: |
| 25. | Q: My student received a 5- on their evaluation and above 80% on theory, excellent or good in technique and sight reading. Is my student eligible for the branch honors recital? |
| A: Students earning a 5-, 5, or 5+ will receive an "honors seal". Only students receiving a 5 or 5+ will be eligible to play in the Honors Recital, time permitting; however, there is NO GUARANTEE any student will be performing in the Honors Recital. Students in the upper levels will be given first priority. See the Branch Honors Recital Criteria. | |
| 26. | Q: When and where will the branch honors recital be held? |
| A: The CM 2012 Honors Recital will be held on April 15, 2012 at Knuth Hall of the San Francisco State University. |
| CONVENTION: |
| 27. | Q: What are the different recital categories at the Convention, and how do you apply? |
| A: Please see our website under: CM, MTAC State Convention. | |
| 28. | Q: Are there time limits for Convention recitals? |
A: YES!
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| 29. | Q: What is the Convention Theme Recital for 2012? |
| A: Russian Composers. The theme changes every 2 years. In 2013 there will be a new theme. | |
| 30. | Q: Can my student perform both a Bach Prelude and Fugue on a Convention Festival Recital when together they are under the 5 minute time limit? |
| A: No, students must choose either a prelude or a fugue. However, students may play both the prelude and fugue for Panel. | |
| 31. | Q: How are the Convention Recital Application Fees to be paid? |
| A: Please see our website under Certificate of Merit, MTAC Convention, no. 3, Convention application Fee | |
| 32. | Q: How are students chosen for the Convention Intermediate Master Class? |
| A: Students for the Intermediate Master Classes are chosen from a select pool of students in the intermediate levels 4-5-6. This pool comes from those students who have entered CM and have applied for and been selected for "CM related Convention Recitals." These students must have an excellent on Repertoire, Technique and Sight Reading, a 5+ rating on the convention piece and above 90% on their theory test. From this pool of students, an equal mix of North/South students are considered, as well as a variety of repertoire from different historical periods. In addition, any special requests from the master teacher such as composer or level are taken into account. From this limited pool of students, calls are made to teachers beginning with the students with the highest theory score who are eligible in all other areas. Sometimes teachers feel their students are not ready to play in a master class. Theory test scores are used until the required number of students is found. |
| PANEL and YAG: |
| 33. | Q: What is Panel Audition? |
| A: The CM Panel Auditions program is for extraordinary students, who have demonstrated artistic and technical skill and polish at a near-professional level. To apply for Panel, a student must be at CM Advanced-Level (10) and performance quality should be at a higher level than the Convention Festival standard (above 5+). The Panel Auditions Guidelines are available at Teacher Home Page/CM Resources/CM Documents. | |
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34.
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Q: How is my student able to perform in the non-Panel convention Recitals if my student is not selected for any of the three Award Panel divisions, (1) Panel Honors, (2) Panel Master Class, or (3) Young Artist Guild Recital? |
| A: In order to be considered for Convention Recitals, teachers must include the specific Convention Recital for which the student should be considered during the CM and Panel Registration process. You must follow the repertoire requirements of the convention recitals. (Please read Panel Auditions Guidelines, Section 5 & 6, and also CM Policies & Procedures) | |
| 35. | Q: When will I know the panel audition date? |
| A: Teachers with students who are registered to participate in Panel Auditions will receive notice as to the location and dates of Panel Auditions via email. Please also check www.mtac.org (Teacher Home Page) at "CM Newsletter" for venue and other updates. | |
| 36. | Q: Whom shall I contact for my questions regarding the panel? |
| A: Please follow the Line of Communication and Conflict Resolution procedures providedin the CM Policies & Procedures. For questions, contact your CM Branch Chair. (Janis Lee) |
| MISCELLANEOUS: |
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37.
|
Q: I read that teachers should make a copy of the student's theory test and evaluation form. Does that mean to take a copy of the entire 8-12 page test or just the score of the test? Does this apply to all students, or only those in high school or those being considered for Convention recitals? |
| A: For all students: Copy the front page of the theory test which contains the student's name, ID #, score, level, year, and the front page of the Evaluation Report Form. | |