MTNA Professional Certification Program

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 The MTNA Professional Certification Program exists  to improve the level of professionalism within the field of music  teaching. Certification helps readily identify competent teachers within  the community and provides these teachers with prestige, recognition  and the potential for student recruitment and increased earning power.

The Certification Process validates  an individual's qualifications for a specific field of professional  practice. It signifies commitment to continued excellence in  professional practice. In addition, it increases visibility, builds  credibility, provides a goal for personal professional achievement and  validates expertise. The MTNA Professional Certification 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. 

1. Professional Preparation
2. Professional Teaching Practice
3. Professional Business Management
4. Professionalism and Partnerships
5. Professional and Personal Renewal
   

Annette Poyar Suhovecky has been teaching piano in  Dublin, Ohio for the last twenty-six years. She is a twenty-six year  member of Ohio Music Teachers Association, earning her National  Certification two years after joining. During her time with OhioMTA, she  has volunteered in many capacities, by chairing Certification for two  years, co-chairing the Scale Olympics and working at every Pianorama and  Scale Olympics during her membership. She currently chairs Grants for  Professional Development, a position she’s held for the last four years.

Annette  earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Youngstown State  University, Dana School of Music in 1986. In 1987 she studied Arts  Administration for four months at The City University in London,  England. In 1988, she received her Master of Fine Arts degree in  Performing Arts Management from Brooklyn College, City University of New  York. Her career in arts management included General Manager of Amateur  Chamber Music Players (an affiliate of Chamber Music America), working  in the finance department of London Mozart Players, assistant to the  General Manager of the Gregg Smith Singers, working in the finance  department of the Cunningham Dance Foundation and working in the  marketing department of Carnegie Hall.

One of  Annette’s most memorable and rewarding projects included producing and  hosting a thirty minute radio program on the history of Amateur Chamber  Music Players. It was distributed and aired on many National Public  Radio stations throughout the United States.  
 Annette has been  married to her husband, Michael, for twenty-seven years. Together they  have three daughters who have studied violin and/or piano extensively.  As a family, they strive to do their best in supporting the music and  arts community.