ALMADEN SCHOOL OF MUSIC & ART
  • COVID-19
  • PROGRAMS
    • Little Mozarts Piano
    • MTAC - Certificate of Merit
    • Band Ensemble
  • Music
    • FEATURED STUDENTS >
      • Grand Corona Piano Competition
      • Student of the Month
      • Jenna Chatham (Drums)
      • Nicole Rovniaguin (Vocal)
    • Piano >
      • Soroosh Meili
      • Matthew Kho
      • Luara Tsariya
      • Richard Frazier
      • Evgenia Armishev
      • Debora Carreiro
      • Violeta Marcoida
      • Sevil Sultanova
      • Marina Menyaylenko
      • Evgenia Abramyan
    • Violin >
      • Navid Kandelousi
      • Jessica Cao
      • Alex Makarenko
      • Elina Papova
      • Sevil Sultanova
      • Steve Luft
    • Vocal / Singing >
      • Annemarie Webster
      • Lytusina Kazachenko
      • Inesa Anisonean
      • Anna Keyta
      • Tetyana Mysko
    • Guitar >
      • Quentin Jorstad
      • Felix Amirian
      • Abir B.
      • Ashot Mnjoyan
      • Denis Ryman
      • Jerad Fox
      • Peter Kulverts
      • Justin Liu
    • Cello >
      • Yong-Zi Ma
    • Viola >
      • Navid Kandelousi
      • Elina Papova
    • Flute >
      • Sarah Benton
      • Marian Concus
      • Doug Zuehlke
    • Clarinet >
      • Mark Russo
      • Doug Zuehlke
    • Recorder >
      • Marian Concus
      • Doug Zuehlke
    • Saxophone >
      • Andrew Dixon
      • Eric Abramyan
      • Mark Russo
    • Drums >
      • Quentin Jorstad
      • Ashot Mnjoyan
    • Music Theory >
      • Justin Liu
  • Art
    • Watercolor
    • Oil and Acrilyc
    • Drawing Pen and Colored Pencil
    • Claywork and Painting
    • Stained Glass Painting
    • Hand Painted Silk
    • Vania Goranova
    • Larissa Zaiko
    • FEATURED STUDENTS >
      • Sanoja Kikkeri (Art)
      • Angelina Pham (Art)
      • Yul-Hui Han (Art)
      • Elysia Du (Art)
      • Annika Kandadai (Art)
      • Haely Pham (Art)
      • Nithya Mani (Art)
      • Simran Malhotra (Art)
      • Katie Ha (Art)
      • Samantha Cusi-Asquith (Art)
      • Yangyang Lai (Art)
      • Lucas Wang (Art)
      • Zara Saeed (Art)
  • Specials
  • TEACHING JOBS
  • Online Forms
    • Registration Form
    • Cancel Lesson
    • Sick Leave
    • Vacation Notice
    • Drop Notice
  • student login
  • ENROLL
    • ENROLL - Piano
    • ENROLL - Drums
    • ENROLL - Violin
    • ENROLL - Clarinet
    • ENROLL - Flute
    • ENROLL - Saxophone
MTAC - Certificate of Merit Program
Certificate of Merit is the Music Teachers Association of California's (MTAC) evaluation held every spring. CM is a comprehensive program for both students and teachers. It gives both a goal to attain. There are additional competitions and evaluations students can enter that ARE competitive. Several music publishers make a great effort to level their music to coincide with CM levels. 

Certificate of Merit (CM) encourages and promotes consistent and conscientious effort on the part of the student, rewards meritorious achievement with certificates and special recognition. Students are evaluated by state examinations; outstanding young musicians are afforded the opportunity to appear on State Convention programs. After state adjudication, it offers opportunities for recognition and performance through Branch Honors Festival, Junior Recital and Senior Recital with awards night and banquet.

The program consists of technique, repertoire, sight reading, ear training, optional improvisation, and a written theory exam. Students who complete thru level 9 or Advanced will many times test out of first year college music theory.


It's a challenging program and quite a lot of our students participate. We strongly recommend the program for students that are passionate and serious about Music - especially as a performer. 

CM LEVELS
  1. Each instrument has its own 10-level or 11-level syllabus, detailing a specific set of requirements. Teachers will decide the appropriate level for each student.
  2. Students and teachers work together on level-appropriate selected literature, technique elements, sight reading, theory, and ear training.
EVALUATIONS & AWARDS
  1. Students participate in an annual Evaluation between mid-February and April and receive a written musical performance assessment.
  2. Students complete a written theory exam which includes an ear training component.
  3. Upon successful completion of the Evaluation, students receive an official MTAC CM Certificate for their level.
  4. Senior medallions are awarded to eligible high school seniors.
  5. Students demonstrating exceptional skill at his/her Evaluation may be selected to perform at annual MTAC State Convention Recitals.

SCHEDULE TRIAL CLASS WITH MTAC REGISTERED INSTRUCTOR

*Please note that trials fees need to be paid before a time slot is confirmed with the teacher. 

    SIGN UP FOR A TRIAL CLASS

Submit
Picture
It's a challenging program and quite a lot of our students participate. We strongly recommend the program for students that are passionate and serious about Music - especially as a performer.
Picture
Picture
Picture

SCHOOL LOCATION

5353 Almaden Expressway, 
Suite D208
​San Jose, CA - 95118
(Next to PetSmart)

SARATOGA STUDIO

​Almaden School of Music & Art
1428 Saratoga Avenue, 
​San Jose, CA - 95129
(Next to Heritage Country Inn)
Quick Links

SPECIALS

SCHOOL POLICIES

BLOG

JOBS

FAQs

Forms

EARLY CANCEL NOTICE

SICK NOTICE

DROP NOTICE 

VACATION NOTICE

​PHOTO CONSENT FORM

REGISTRATION FORM ​

Testimonials

I was evaluating this school for my son's piano lessons but ended up joining myself. My son is very Young and I needed to try out some lessons before committing and the school worked with me through the process of trying out multiple teachers, who were all fantastic in their own league, but I was looking for a non traditional learning for my son.

So though we decided it's not the right time for my son to start here, I myself ended up joining one of the teachers who we tried out and liked. He is Mr. Matthew. As a teacher he had understood my goals and my expectations and is challenging me accordingly. I really like the class.

​The school's management was very involved and took lot of effort to understand my and my son's requirements and constantly followed up on the experience as a new student. This is rare to see but reflects the passion of the management towards music and towards customer service. I would recommend this highly. I also love the arts program of schools which I have walked by often and seen the amazing paintings that Young students make there.

~Anshu 

Read more reviews on Google. ​https://goo.gl/maps/S7F6XZeuG892

Contact Us

Call: +1.408.267.3651
Text/SMS: +1.408.359.8577

​email: info@almadenSchool.com
  • COVID-19
  • PROGRAMS
    • Little Mozarts Piano
    • MTAC - Certificate of Merit
    • Band Ensemble
  • Music
    • FEATURED STUDENTS >
      • Grand Corona Piano Competition
      • Student of the Month
      • Jenna Chatham (Drums)
      • Nicole Rovniaguin (Vocal)
    • Piano >
      • Soroosh Meili
      • Matthew Kho
      • Luara Tsariya
      • Richard Frazier
      • Evgenia Armishev
      • Debora Carreiro
      • Violeta Marcoida
      • Sevil Sultanova
      • Marina Menyaylenko
      • Evgenia Abramyan
    • Violin >
      • Navid Kandelousi
      • Jessica Cao
      • Alex Makarenko
      • Elina Papova
      • Sevil Sultanova
      • Steve Luft
    • Vocal / Singing >
      • Annemarie Webster
      • Lytusina Kazachenko
      • Inesa Anisonean
      • Anna Keyta
      • Tetyana Mysko
    • Guitar >
      • Quentin Jorstad
      • Felix Amirian
      • Abir B.
      • Ashot Mnjoyan
      • Denis Ryman
      • Jerad Fox
      • Peter Kulverts
      • Justin Liu
    • Cello >
      • Yong-Zi Ma
    • Viola >
      • Navid Kandelousi
      • Elina Papova
    • Flute >
      • Sarah Benton
      • Marian Concus
      • Doug Zuehlke
    • Clarinet >
      • Mark Russo
      • Doug Zuehlke
    • Recorder >
      • Marian Concus
      • Doug Zuehlke
    • Saxophone >
      • Andrew Dixon
      • Eric Abramyan
      • Mark Russo
    • Drums >
      • Quentin Jorstad
      • Ashot Mnjoyan
    • Music Theory >
      • Justin Liu
  • Art
    • Watercolor
    • Oil and Acrilyc
    • Drawing Pen and Colored Pencil
    • Claywork and Painting
    • Stained Glass Painting
    • Hand Painted Silk
    • Vania Goranova
    • Larissa Zaiko
    • FEATURED STUDENTS >
      • Sanoja Kikkeri (Art)
      • Angelina Pham (Art)
      • Yul-Hui Han (Art)
      • Elysia Du (Art)
      • Annika Kandadai (Art)
      • Haely Pham (Art)
      • Nithya Mani (Art)
      • Simran Malhotra (Art)
      • Katie Ha (Art)
      • Samantha Cusi-Asquith (Art)
      • Yangyang Lai (Art)
      • Lucas Wang (Art)
      • Zara Saeed (Art)
  • Specials
  • TEACHING JOBS
  • Online Forms
    • Registration Form
    • Cancel Lesson
    • Sick Leave
    • Vacation Notice
    • Drop Notice
  • student login
  • ENROLL
    • ENROLL - Piano
    • ENROLL - Drums
    • ENROLL - Violin
    • ENROLL - Clarinet
    • ENROLL - Flute
    • ENROLL - Saxophone