MTAC recently announced plans to make all Certificate of Merit exams online-only in 2022 and onward. We, MTAC registered teachers and students/parents, deeply appreciate everything the MTAC State Office has done make the Certificate of Merit program possible via virtual exams during the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are strongly against the idea of permanently removing live evaluation.

In our experience, the virtual exam caused many difficulties for teachers, students, and parents. We encountered challenges due to students’ (or teachers’) electronic devices, home/studio environments, and misunderstandings of the exam instructions. We believe that a successful Certificate of Merit experience should not depend on factors like these, and continuing to provide a live evaluation option is important for the following reasons:

• Music is a Performance Art. Through live evaluations, students get to experience live performance and learn self-adjustment in a different environment. This is an important part of the students’ musical development, and cannot be provided through virtual exams.
• MTAC Branches provide ideal, secure environments for CM exams. This means that students benefit from proper performance spaces and (for the piano department) instruments in good condition, and do not need to worry or feel embarrassed about their instruments at home, or interruptions from an unexpected door bell rings or sirens on the street.
• In-person theory exams can be more strictly monitored, ensuring that students are not tempted to cheat.
• Students feel much more accomplished when they complete all CM requirements at once in an official exam venue, instead of spread out over time at home or in a teacher’s studio.
• Following the guidelines of the virtual exam is nearly impossible for kids with special needs.
• The virtual exam requires more investment and financial support from both students/parents and teachers, including buying new devices and compromises to the entire family’s schedule. Not all families are able to afford these additional requirements, potentially leading to lower CM participation.

We ask the State Office to consider this feedback, and reconsider their decision. We are excited about the option to continue offering for online exams for students that prefer this alternative, but we believe that option should not at the expense of an in-person evaluation experience.