Music Teachers National Association


Music Teachers National Association is an American nonprofit professional organization for the support, growth, and development of music-teaching professionals, with some 22,000 members in 50 states, and over 500 local affiliates. MTNA offers a wide range of member resources, from leadership, teaching and personal health support, to insurance, financial and legal services. It also comprises two subsidiaries, the MTNA Professional Certification Program, and the MTNA Foundation Fund, which supports a variety of programs that include music competitions and commissioning of composers. MTNA was founded in 1876, and is registered as a 501 organization in Ohio, with headquarters located in Cincinnati.

History

Music Teachers National Association is an American organization founded in 1876 by Theodore Presser, who was both a musician and publisher. MTNA is credited in helping to establish an international pitch scale in 1883 as well as promoting international copyright law and giving official recognition to the American composer. In 1967, MTNA approved the program for qualified teachers. MTNA is also known for commissioning compositions by American composers and presenting the annual Distinguished Composer of the Year Award. The association also hold annual competitions for young musicians at the local, state, and national level. Currently, the organization had approximately 22,000 members, including teachers, performers, and composers, and more that 500 local affiliates. The official journal of the MTNA, American Music Teacher, was first published in 1951.
MTNA's purpose is to advance the benefit of studying music and music making to society and to support the professionalism of music teachers. MTNA maintains two subsidiary programs: MTNA Professional Certification Program and the MTNA Foundation Fund. The Professional Certification Program exists to improve the quality of professionalism in applied music teaching and assists the public in identifying proficient music teachers in their communities. The MTNA Foundation Fund supports programs that financially assist teachers and students with educational objectives while supplying an opportunity for individual and corporate support of MTNA and its programs.

Awards and Special Programs

As an association of music teachers, MTNA's mission is to elevate the professional level and develop the standing of all its members. MTNA is responsible for disseminating many publications, including books, journals, and pamphlets that have greatly impacted the profession of teaching music. MTNA also perpetually seeks newly published music and other teaching materials to raise awareness among its members.

The Certification of Teachers

According to MTNA, "The National Certification Plan is one of the highest importance to the professional welfare of the music teacher, and it provides a means of measuring and recognizing his or her professional growth. It represents almost a century of consultation and deliberation on the part of America's musical leaders."

MTNA Forums

The independent music teachers forum of MTNA was the first established in 1972, at the MTNA Convention in Portland, Oregon. After this initial meeting, IMTF organized different committees on the local and state levels. Its purpose was "To investigate the role of the full time independent teacher in American society today: the problems, advantages, and practices of this group, with the goal of establishing a true profession in this decade."
Multiple forums now exist through MTNA. They provide an environment for open discussion and the expression of ideas. These forums meet annually at the MTNA conference. These forums include:
First awarded in 1969, the terms of the Distinguished Composer of the Year Award state that an MTNA-affiliated state music teachers association could commission any composer of their choice to compose a work for their state convention. Recording and scores of these works could then be sent to the national headquarters in Cincinnati. From these commissions, one composer is selected each year by a panel of judges to receive the "Distinguished Composer Award," otherwise known as the "Composer of the Year" award.
Previous winners include:
The MTNA National Conference, which is held annually, brings together the constituents of the MTNA membership. National competitions highlights the performances of students in all instrument areas, including composition. The national conferences also include master classes, technology and informational sessions, pedagogy sessions, and evening concerts. Members have the opportunity to participate in the national conference by submitting proposals and papers for presentation.

MTNA National Conferences

ConferenceConference SiteYear
1stDelaware, Ohio1876
2ndChautauqua, New York1878
3rdCincinnati, Ohio1879
4thBuffalo, New York1880
5thAlbany, New York1881
6thChicago, Illinois1882
7thProvidence, Rhode Island1883
8thCleveland, Ohio1884
9thNew York, New York1885
10thBoston, Massachusetts1886
11thIndianapolis, Indiana1887
12thChicago, Illinois1888
13thPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania1889
14thDetroit, Michigan1890
15thCleveland, Ohio1892
16thChicago, Illinois1893
17thSaratoga Springs, New York1894
18thSt. Louis, Missouri1895
19thDenver, Colorado1896
20thNew York, New York1897
21stNew York, New York1898
22ndCincinnati, Ohio1899
23rdDes Moines, Iowa1900
24thPut-in-Bay, Ohio1901
25thPut-in-Bay, Ohio1902
26thAsheville, North Carolina1903
27thSt. Louis, Missouri1904
28thNew York, New York1905
29thOberlin, Ohio1906
30thNew York, New York1907
31stWashington, D.C.1908
32ndEvanston, Illinois1909
33rdBoston, Massachusetts1910
34thAnn Arbor, Michigan1911
35thPoughkeepsie, New York1912
36thCincinnati, Ohio1913
37thPittsburgh, Pennsylvania1914
38thBuffalo, New York1915
39thNew York, New York1916
40thNew Orleans, Louisiana1917
41stSt. Louis, Missouri1918
42ndPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania1919
43rdChicago, Illinois1920
44thDetroit, Michigan1921
45thNew York, New York1922
46thPittsburgh, Pennsylvania1923
47thSt. Louis, Missouri1924
48thDayton, Ohio1925
49thRochester, New York1926
50thMinneapolis, Minnesota1927
51stCleveland, Ohio1928
52ndCleveland, Ohio1929
53rdSt. Louis, Missouri1930
54thDetroit, Michigan1931
55thWashington, D.C.1932
56thLincoln, Nebraska1933
57thMilwaukee, Wisconsin1934
58thPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania1935
59thChicago, Illinois1936
60thPittsburgh, Pennsylvania1937
61stWashington, D.C.1938
62ndKansas City, Missouri1939
63rdCleveland, Ohio1940
64thMinneapolis, Minnesota1941
65thCincinnati, Ohio1942
66thCincinnati, Ohio1944
67thDetroit, Michigan1945
68thDetroit, Michigan1946
69thSt. Louis, Missouri1947
70thBoston, Massachusetts1947
71stChicago, Illinois1948
72ndSan Francisco, California1949
73rdCleveland, Ohio1950
74thWashington, D.C.1950
75thDallas, Texas1952
76thCincinnati, Ohio1953
77thSt. Louis, Missouri1955
78thChicago, Illinois1957
79thKansas City, Missouri1959
80thPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania1961
81stChicago, Illinois1963
82ndDallas, Texas1965
83rdSt. Louis, Missouri1967
84thCincinnati, Ohio1969
85thMiami Beach, Florida1970
86thChicago, Illinois1971
88thPortland, Oregon1972
89thPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania1973
90thLos Angeles, California1974
91stDenver, Colorado1975
92ndDallas, Texas1976
93rdAtlanta, Georgia1977
94thChicago, Illinois1978
95thSeattle, Washington1979
96thWashington, D.C.1980
97thPhoenix, Arizona1981
98thKansas City, Missouri1982
99thHouston, Texas1983
100thLouisville, Kentucky1984
101stDearborn, Michigan1985
102ndPortland, Oregon1986
103rdNew York, New York1987
104thSalt Lake City, Utah1988
105thWichita, Kansas1989
106thLittle Rock, Arkansas1990
107thMiami, Florida1991
108thMilwaukee, Wisconsin1992
109thSpokane, Washington1993
110thWashington, D.C.1994
111thAlbuquerque, New Mexico1995
112thKansas City, Missouri1996
113thDallas, Texas1997
114thNashville, Tennessee1998
115thLos Angeles, California1999
116thMinneapolis, Minnesota2000
117thWashington, D.C.2001
118thCincinnati, Ohio2002
119thSalt Lake City, Utah2003
120thKansas City, Missouri2004
121stSeattle, Washington2005
122ndAustin, Texas2006
123rdToronto, Ontario2007
124thDenver, Colorado2008
125thAtlanta, Georgia2009
126thAlbuquerque, New Mexico2010
127thMilwaukee, Wisconsin2011
128thNew York, New York2012
129thAnaheim, California2013
130thChicago, Illinois2014
131stLas Vegas, Nevada2015
132stSan Antonio, Texas2016
133rdBaltimore, Maryland2017
134thOrlando, Florida2018
135thSpokane, Washington2019
136thChicago, Illinois2020
137thAtlanta, Georgia2021

MTNA Presidents

NameHome StateYear
Eben TourjeeMassachusetts1876
James A. ButterfieldIllinois1878
Rudolf de RoodeKentucky1879
Fenelon B. RiceOhio1880 - 1881
Arthur MeesOhio1882
Edward M. BowmanNew York1883 - 1884
Smith N. PenfieldNew York1885
Albert A. StanleyRhode Island1886
Calixa LavalleeMassachusetts1887
Max LecknerIndiana1888
William F. HeathIllinois1889
Albert Ross ParsonsNew York1890
Jacob H. HahnMichigan1892
Edward M. BowmanNew York1893 - 1894
N. Coe StewartNew York1895
Ernest R. KroegerMissouri1896
Herbert W. GreeneUnknown1897 - 1898
Max LecknerIndiana1899
Arnold J. GantvoortOhio1900
Arthur L. ManchesterTexas1901 - 1902
Rosetter G. ColeIllinois1903
Thomas á BeckettPennsylvania1904
Edward M. BowmanNew York1905
Waldo S. PrattConnecticut1906 - 1908
Rosetter G. ColeIllinois1909 - 1910
Peter C. LutkinIllinois1911
George C. GowNew York1912
Charles H. FarnsworthNew York1913 - 1914
J. Lawrence ErbOhio1915 - 1917
Charles N. BoydPennsylvania1918 - 1919
Peter C. LutkinIllinois1920
Osbourne McConathyMassachusetts1921
J. Lawrence ErbOhio1922
Charles N. BoydPennsylvania1923
Leon N. MaxwellLouisiana1924 - 1925
Harold L. ButlerNew York1926 - 1927
William Arms FisherMassachusetts1928 - 1929
Howard HansonNew York1930
Donald M. SwarthoutKansas1931 - 1932
Albert RiemenschneiderOhio1933
Karl W. GehrkensOhio1934
Frederick B. StivenIllinois1935
Earl V. MooreMichigan1936 - 1937
Edwin HughesNew York1938 - 1939
Warren D. AllenCalifornia1940
Glen HaydonNorth Carolina1941 - 1942
James T. QuarlesMissouri1944 - 1946
Russell V. MorganRussell V. Morgan1947
Raymond KendallMichigan1947 - 1948
Wilfred C. BainIndiana1949 - 1950
Roy UnderwoodMichigan1950 - 1952
John CrowderMontana1953
Barrett StoutLouisiana1955
Karl O. KuertsteinerFlorida1957
Duane O. HaskellArkansas1959
LaVahn MaeschWisconsin1961
Duane A. BraniganIllinois1963
James B. PetersonNebraska1965
Willis F. DucrestLouisiana1967 - 1969
Celia Mae BryantOklahoma1970 - 1973
Julio EstebanMaryland1974 - 1975
Nadine DresskellArizona1976 - 1979
Robert V. SuttonMassachusetts1980 - 1981
Joseph BryeOregon1982 - 1983
Frank McGinnisCalifornia1984 - 1985
Sigfred MatsonMississippi1986 - 1987
Dolores ZupanMissouri1988 - 1989
Richard MorrisOhio1990 - 1991
Margaret LorinceSouth Carolina1992 - 1993
James C. NordenWisconsin1994 - 1995
Ruth EdwardsNew Hampshire1996 - 1997
L. Rexford WhiddonGeorgia1998 - 1999
Joan M. ReistNebraska2000 - 2001
R. Wayne GibsonGeorgia2002 - 2003
Phyllis I. PiefferWashington2004 - 2005
Paul B. StewartNorth Carolina2006 - 2007
Gail BerensonOhio2008 - 2009
Ann GipsonTexas2010 - 2011
Benjamin D. CatonTennessee2012 - 2013
Kenneth J. ChristensenMontana2013–2014
Rebecca Grooms JohnsonOhio2014–Present

Divisions

During the Chicago convention of 1948, the MTNA Executive Committee established the divisional organizations. Each state was assigned to a particular division, even though the state in question, at the time, may not have had an organized chapter of the MTNA. The Current Divisions are as follows:

East Central Division

All fifty states and the District of Columbia have affiliations with MTNA. Forty-nine state music teachers associations were established between 1876 and 1969. The final two states to be established were Maine in 1976 and Alaska in 1982.

State Affiliates

StateOrganizationYear Affiliated With MTNA
AlabamaAMTA1953
AlaskaAKTA1982
ArizonaASMTA1928
ArkansasASMTA1920
CaliforniaCAPMT1968
ColoradoCSMTA1954
ConnecticutCSMTA1965
DelawareDSMTA1960
District of ColumbiaWMTA1954
FloridaFSMTA1953
GeorgiaGMTA1955
HawaiiHMTA1969
IdahoIMTA1957
IllinoisISMTA1886
IndianaIMTA1951
IowaIMTA1885
KansasKMTA1921
KentuckyKMTA1953
LouisianaLMTA1953
MaineMMTA1976
MarylandMSMTA1957
MassachusettsMMTA1960
MichiganMMTA1885
MinnesotaMMTA1921
MississippiMMTA1955
MissouriMMTA1895
MontanaMSTA1927
NebraskaNMTA1953
NevadaNMTA1967
New HampshireNHMTA1968
New JerseyNJMTA1961
New MexicoNMMTA1951
New YorkNYSMTA1963
North CarolinaNCMTA1960
North DakotaNDSMTA1957
OhioOMTA1879
OklahomaOMTA1952
OregonOMTA1915
PennsylvaniaPMTA1953
Rhode IslandRIMTA1963
South CarolinaSCMTA1961
South DakotaSDMTA1955
TennesseeTMTA1953
TexasTMTA1952
UtahUMTA1957
VermontVMTA1965
VirginiaVMTA1965
WashingtonWSMTA1915
West VirginiaWVMTA1966
WisconsinWMTA1951
WyomingWMTA1963