Program guide
Certificate of Merit is California's statewide music assessment, run by MTAC. Here's how the program actually works — the eleven levels, the five evaluated areas, the annual calendar, and what preparation looks like inside a weekly lesson.
Quick answer
11 levels · 5 subject areas · 1 evaluation each spring
Certificate of Merit (CM) is the Music Teachers' Association of California's statewide music assessment: eleven levels from Preparatory through Level 10, evaluated once a year (February–April) on repertoire, technique, sight-reading, ear training, and written theory. Students enroll each fall through an MTAC-member teacher, and top scorers earn Branch Honors and State Honors.
Certificate of Merit is administered by the Music Teachers' Association of California (MTAC), which has run statewide music evaluations since the 1930s. It is one of the largest student music assessment programs in California, with participating students across the state each spring. Unlike one-off competitions, CM is a curriculum: each level has a published syllabus of repertoire, technique, theory, and musicianship skills, and students return every spring to be evaluated at the next level.
CM sits alongside ABRSM and RCM in Opus 1's music exam preparation offerings. It is the California-native option: local, affordable, and — through its Branch Honors and State Honors — well understood by California schools and admissions offices.
Levels track skill, not age — teachers place each student at the level that matches their current playing.
| Level | Typical stage | What's evaluated |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory | First 1–2 years of weekly lessons (often ages 6–8) | Short prepared pieces, steady pulse, note reading, and the first written theory concepts. |
| Levels 1–3 | Elementary school years | Foundational scales and repertoire, beginning sight-reading, and ear-training basics like interval and rhythm recognition. |
| Levels 4–6 | Upper elementary and middle school | Intermediate repertoire from multiple style periods, fuller technique requirements, and written theory through chords and harmony. |
| Levels 7–9 | Middle and high school | Advanced repertoire, sight-reading at level, and harmonic analysis. Opus 1 typically pairs these levels with a Senior or Master teacher. |
| Level 10 | High school | Pre-conservatory standard, with an Advanced designation available beyond Level 10 for students who continue. |
Every CM evaluation covers the same five areas, at increasing depth as levels rise. Theory at every level is CM's signature — it produces students who read, analyze, and hear music, not just play it.
Certificate of Merit recognizes its top performers with Branch Honors — awarded by the local MTAC branch to the highest-scoring students — and State Honors, a statewide recognition for the top scorers at each level. Because CM is a California institution, these honors are familiar to UC and CSU admissions readers and are a natural fit for the activities and awards sections of California college applications.
Families weighing CM against an internationally portable credential should read our ABRSM vs Certificate of Merit comparison — the two programs answer different questions about a student's musicianship, and the right pick depends on the student's goals.
Wondering where to start?
Tell us the student's age, instrument, and experience — we'll suggest a starting level and a teacher who participates in CM.
CM preparation at Opus 1 happens inside the normal weekly private lesson — there is no separate exam class or additional tuition. Teachers who participate in CM are MTAC members, so the studio handles registration during the fall window and structures the year around the spring evaluation: syllabus repertoire in the fall, theory and ear training through the winter, and performance run-throughs at studio recitals before evaluation season. For Levels 7 and above, we typically match students with a Senior or Master teacher.
Piano is the largest Certificate of Merit instrument track, and the majority of Opus 1 CM students are pianists. Preparation fits inside the normal weekly lesson — repertoire, technique, theory, and ear training are built into the term plan. See piano lessons in Mountain View or Palo Alto.
String students follow the CM string syllabus, with level-specific scales, etudes, and repertoire. Sight-reading and ear training are woven into lessons from the early levels. See violin lessons in Mountain View or Palo Alto.
Cellists prepare the CM cello syllabus with the same five evaluated areas. Recital performance practice before the spring evaluation helps young cellists feel at home playing for an evaluator. See cello lessons in Mountain View or Palo Alto.
The CM voice track evaluates prepared songs, musicianship, and theory adapted for singers. Voice students often pair CM with school choir and honor-choir auditions. See voice lessons in Mountain View or Palo Alto.
CM FAQs
Certificate of Merit (CM) is a music assessment program run by the Music Teachers' Association of California (MTAC) since the 1930s. Students are evaluated once a year on repertoire, technique, sight-reading, ear training, and written music theory, progressing through eleven levels from Preparatory to Level 10.
Enrollment goes through an MTAC-member teacher — families cannot register directly with MTAC. If your child studies with an Opus 1 teacher who participates in CM, the studio handles registration during the fall enrollment window (typically September–October) and plans the year's lessons around the spring evaluation.
CM evaluations happen once a year, scheduled between February and April depending on the local MTAC branch. Registration closes in the fall, so families should decide by early October whether the student will participate that school year.
Five areas: prepared repertoire performed for an evaluator, technique (scales and level-specific requirements), sight-reading, ear training, and a written theory exam. Theory is tested at every level, which is the biggest difference from performance-focused exam programs.
They are Certificate of Merit's top recognitions. Branch Honors is awarded by the local MTAC branch to students with the highest evaluation scores, and State Honors recognizes the top scorers statewide at each level. Both are well-known credentials in California schools and are frequently cited on UC and CSU applications.
Most students complete one level per year, taking the evaluation each spring. Teachers place students at the level matching their current playing — not their age — so a student who starts lessons later can begin CM at a higher level. Advancing to Levels 7 and above usually calls for a more experienced teacher and a steadier practice routine.
Yes. Certificate of Merit piano preparation is available at Opus 1's Mountain View and Palo Alto campuses through MTAC-member teachers, alongside CM tracks for violin, cello, and voice. CM preparation happens inside the normal weekly private lesson — there is no separate class or extra tuition for exam prep.
Ready to start?