The Evaluation Criteria of PTNA Teachers' Award Will Be Changed

2017/02/15 | コメント(0)  | トラックバック(0)  | 
ptna_20170203top.jpgHow could piano teachers be evaluated? We believe that they have to be evaluated by development and achievement of their students, and that is why PTNA Teachers' Award was established in 1977. We also think that the criteria should be reviewed on a regular basis and revised if necessary.

This year, the criteria of PTNA Teachers' Award will be changed. There are 2 paths to be considered. The 1st path is the "result at the PTNA Piano Competition". It is required that at least 2 students out of 6 should achieve the prize of excellence at the regional final rounds, but not necessarily proceed to the final round as it used to. However, at least 1 student out of 8 should achieve the same prize, which was not required previously. As PTNA Piano Competition aims at studying 4 periods, we think it important to see the overall achievement at the 2nd stage.

The 2nd path is the "Teachers' Point". It starts to be counted from April 1st, and is required to reach 170 point at the end of March. The Teachers' Point includes students' stage point (PTNA Piano STEP, PTNA Piano Competition, Teachers' Examination, etc.) as well as those of teachers his/herself. It is also counted if s/he submit research thesis or reports, and reports of PTNA Piano Seminars. Anyway, the key is whether students continue studying and playing on stage, which eventually leads to increased recognition of an entire piano studio.

Then, what are the characteristics of the past award recipients? 49.5% of them have served as jury members at the PTNA Piano Competition or as advisors at PTNA Piano STEP. 69% keep studying by attending seminars or participating in lessons observation programs. 33.4% participate in the PTNA Piano Competition or the STEP.

Here are some voices from some recipients last year.
Kimiko Hayashi (representative of Tokoname Station) gains 870 points as of January 2017. A number of students has been learning with her for 10 years and beyond, and their achievements at PTNA Piano Competition have been also remarkable. 9 students proceeded to the final round last summer. She hopes that students enjoy music as their lifelong friends. In her studio, not only students but also their mothers become friends. They encourage each other, and even play together as duos! Children see their mothers make effort in practicing and playing on stage at STEP. Hayashi thinks that it makes good impact on to their children.

Kayo Takahashi, a PTNA trustee, has received Teachers' Award for 28 times. At the beginning, she sometimes became nervous or upset to the students' results, but learned year by year that those were reflections of what she had done, and now she can accept the result as it is. She also understands that she is able to learn a lot from what she shares with her students in the process of music-making, and appreciates to continue this whole process for generations.

Makoto Okumura, who has received this award for 18 times, was very enthusiastic at the beginning in setting a goal to achieve this award. But he gradually became aware that his priority was somehow changed, from students' musical development to the pursuit of his own goal. Then he kept this goal away and completely shifted his mind to focus on students' musical development. Teachers' Award is not the thing to pursue, said Okumura. "The most important thing is to focus on daily lessons, and that is the appropriate attitude as a teacher.
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