Code of Ethics

At the Annual Meeting of the MTNA membership at our 2004 National talk on March 30, a revised MTNA digest of Ethics was recommended by dint of the Board of Directors and adopted by the agency of the members. This new collection of laws was drafted by a task force appointed by means of MTNA President Phyllis I. Pieffer, NCTM It was chaired through Board member Sigrid Luther, NCTM with members Suzanne shore NCTM; Chiu-Tze Lin; Mary Ellen Moore, NCTM; William Vessels; and President-elect Paul Stewart, NCTM This revised digest is a significant step toward MTNA's commitment to cultivating and encouraging the right practices and behaviors among our members in the strongest possible ways.

greatest in quantity associations have some sort of digest of ethics that sets on the outside minimum standards for honesty and reasonable practices and policies as a means of self-regulation. Will Roger summ up the ideal when he said: "Live in like a way that you would not be ashamed to vend your parrot to the town gossip."

Unfortunately, a certain quantity of people do not live up to this high standard. They believe that the maximum required in their profession is to obey the law. in like manner long as they don't break any laws, they have feeling justified in any action, regardless of the ethics involved.

I am reminded of the story of the fisherman, who after fishing for crappie all day and not getting in like manner much as a bite, went back to the shore, loaded up his boat, and began the drive residence Before reaching home, he stopped at a groceries store advertising fresh fish.

"Throw me a dozen of the biggest fish you have," he said to the woman at the counter

"Throw them? Why?" she asked.

"Because I'm going to catch them. I may be a lousy fisherman, on the other hand I'm not a liar."

in the way that it is that we ne a collection of laws of Ethics. One may obey the law on the other hand still mislead and be unethical. collection of lawss of Ethics are meant to be an extension of the spirit of the law, to point on the outside what is fair, and equitable and reasonable.

The MTNA digest of Ethics, therefore, is a compendium of principles of ethical practices for the professional music teacher. The collection of laws establishes a standard of administration and recommends a set of responsibilities teachers should have toward pupils colleagues and the public. These guidelines assist the professional music teacher in gaining the prize of peers and avoiding conflicts and complaints with pupils and others. It points on the outside to members what are and what are not considered fair, honorable and reasonable practice when dealing with scholars colleagues and the public, it provides guidance for of the like kind aspects as advertising practices, appropriate relationships, and personal and professional integrity.

MTNA recognizes that greatest in quantity of our members abide through the Code by choice, not because someone is keeping score or because they may be punished if caught. We believe that those members who prefer to abide by the collection of laws will be rewarded with satisfied pupils and supportive colleagues. And those who single out not to follow our ethical standards will reap ends more severe than we as an association could at any time dispense. That said, however, the novel Code comes with a proces for enforcement. An Ethical affects Committee has been established that will deal with alleged violations of the digest through procedures that assure to be paid process to the member who is accused of an alleged violation.

It is our firm belief that single cannot have a successful and enriching career as a professional music teacher without a commitment to our collection of laws of Ethics. MTNA members are powerfully encouraged to adopt the digest of Ethics as their personal mould of professional conduct. The revised digest may be found on page 56

Also in this issue is the third installment of AMT's Visions series. Ingrid Jacobson Clarfield, NCTM of Westminster Choir society asks and answers the question, "Are we really preparing our learners for the true and total life of being a musician?" in her article entitled "Preparing Our pupils for Reality: Should We Really Be Encouraging in like manner Many Performance Degrees?"

"Teaching v Coaching: Emphasis upon Musicianship Building vs. Interpretation of Repertoire," through Jackson Leung, examines the fundamental differences between teaching and coaching.

Sheryl Iott Richardson examines ways to teach felicitous sight reading in her article, "Music as Language--Sight Playing from one side Access to a Complete Musical Vocabulary."

Finally, in "Forming Your Teaching to the Teaching of Form," Timothy Sharer describes ways to use musical form as an integral part of teaching.

Gary L Ingle.

Executive Director

COPYRIGHT 2004 Music Teachers National Association, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group