Merit

Certification is a process that validates an individual's qualifications for a specific field of professional practice. It demonstrates to employers, clients, and peers that which the individual knows and is able to do. 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 for the individual and to those outside the field.

The NMEC 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.

Upon fulfillment of these standards, applicants are granted the NMEC Professional Certification credential with the designation, Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM). The credential and designation are granted without bias, discrimination, or favoritism between NMEC members and/or non-members or any other arbitrary differentiation. In order to maintain the NMEC Professional Certification credential and designation, NCTM must continue fulfilling the program's standards through the renewal process.

The NMEC Professional Certification program is objectively administered in a uniform manner to ensure fairness, accuracy, validity and integrity. Due process for reconsideration and reinstatement is included in the program for certification candidates, renewal candidates and for those who already hold the NMEC Professional Certification credential.

Merit Standards

Merit I to III

Notes and Accidentals
Time Signatures (include 2/4, 3/4, 4/4)
Key Signatures (include C Major, G Major, D Major, F Major)
Scale and Modes (include Main chords)
Signs and Terms (Dynamics, Tempo)

Merit IV

Notes and Accidentals
Time Signatures (include 2/2, 3/2, 4/2, 3/8)
Key Signatures (include D Major, A Major, B♭Major, G Major) and Relations Minor
Scale and Modes (include the above-tuning)
Intervals (include Major, Minor and etc.)
Signs and Terms (Dynamics, Tempo, Character)

Merit V

Notes and Accidentals
Time Signatures (include 6/8, 9/8, 12/8)
Intervals (include Major, Minor and etc.)
Key Signatures (include E Major, A♭Major, g minor and f# minor) and Relations Minor
Scale and Modes (include Analysis the above-tuning)
Signs and Terms (Dynamics, Tempo, Character)

Merit VI

Notes and Accidentals
Time Signatures (include 6/8, 9/8, 12/8)
Intervals (include Major, Minor, Augmented and Diminished)
Key Signatures (include B Major, D♭Major, g# minor and b♭minor) and Relations Minor
Scale and Modes (include Analysis the above-tuning)
Triads (include Major, Minor)
Signs and Terms (Character or Style, Articulation, and Ornaments).

Merit VII

Time Signatures (include 5/4, 8/5, 7/4, 7/8)
Intervals (include Harmonic and Melodic)
Key Signatures (include F# Major, G♭Major, d# minor and e♭minor)
Scale and Modes (include Analysis the above-tuning)
Diatonic and Chromatic Half Steps
Primary and Secondary Triads (include Major, Minor)
Signs and Terms (Articulation and Ornaments)
Transposition

Merit VIII

Intervals (include Harmonic and Melodic)
Triads (include Qualities, two Intervals), Figured Bass
Scale and Modes
Diatonic and Chromatic Half Steps
Primary and Secondary Triads (include Augmented , Diminished)
Cadences

Merit IX

Intervals (include Harmonic and Melodic)
Triads (include Qualities, two Intervals)
Seventh Chords (include Qualities, three Intervals, Diminished Seventh Chords)
Key Signatures (include G♭Major, C♭Major, a# minor and d# minor)
Scale and Modes (include Analysis the above-tuning)
Primary and Secondary Triads (include Augmented ,Diminished)
Cadences
Modulation with a Secondary Dominant
Contrapuntal Techniques

Merit X

Notes, Time Signatures, Intervals, Triads, Seventh Chords ,Key Signatures, Cadences, Modulation, Contrapuntal Techniques, Signs and Terms, Transposition, Polyphonic Texture and Homophonic Texture

Exam Scores: 100 points
Answers: 50 questions

Majors & Programs

Choral and Sacred Music

The Choral and Sacred Music is a 60-unit program that combines the flexibility, including 29 units of general education and 20 elective credits, with an in-depth education in choral music that includes an introduction to choral music and course work in choral conducting, choral development, choral arranging, diction, and choral ensemble.

Choral Music 
Sacred Music 
Musical Arts

Composition

Composers 
Musical Arts

Keyboard

Piano 
Organ 
Celesta 
Harpsichord 
Electronic Keyboards

Strings

Harp 
Violin 
Viola 
Cello 
Bass

Vocal Arts and Opera

Vocal Arts 
Vocal / Opera 
Pop Vocal Arts

Include: pop/rock, folk-rock, R&B/Urban, country, Latin/Salsa and other popular styles

Winds and Percussion

Oboe 
French horn 
Bassoon 
Piccolo 
Flute 
Clarinet 
Saxophone
Trumpet
Trombone 
Tuba 
Percussion

Include: Timpani, Snare drum, Tenor drum, Bass drum, Cymbals, Tam-tam, Triangle, Wood block, Tambourine, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Tubular bells, Marimba, Drum kit

Guitar

Jazz Guitar
Electronic Guitar 
Electronic Bass

Scholarly and Outreach

Arts Leadership 
Musicology 
Performance Arts 
Musical Theaters

Contemporary Music

Jazz Studies

Include: pop/rock, folk-rock, R&B/Urban, country, Latin/Salsa and other popular styles

Music Industry 
Synthesizer

Application

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