National Association of Teachers of Singing and the Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory Achievement Program (The Achievement Program) announced today a new partnership that will provide NATS members with resources for them to become more effective in their roles as music educators.

Launched in March 2011 by New York's Carnegie Hall and Canada's Royal Conservatory, The Achievement Program provides a national standard for musical achievement, offering a sequential course of study from beginner through advanced levels for people of all ages studying music. The program was created in response to feedback from parents and teachers throughout the US, requesting a top-quality nationally-recognized system to track students' musical progress and celebrate their accomplishments in keyboard, string, woodwind, brass instruments, voice, and the academic subjects of music theory, music history, and pedagogy.

"This enthusiastic partnership is based on the premise that every singer needs appropriate literature to enable his or her voice to reach its full potential," said Allen Henderson, Executive Director of NATS. "The Achievement Program provides that and offers a series of assessments and other tools that help singers develop their skills and compare their progress to a national benchmark of excellence. I believe that, as students and their teachers embrace The Achievement Program, we will find that singers are better prepared and more rounded musicians as they enter university programs. NATS is excited to join with The Achievement Program on this important endeavor."

In 2010, The Royal Conservatory asked for NATS to provide input on the fourth edition of their Voice Series, resulting in a number of additions to the repertoire selections. The Voice Series consists of twelve levels of musical development in the areas of repertoire, technique, musicianship, and musical literacy. The Achievement Program centers on periodic assessments for students that also function as valuable teaching and learning opportunities. In each practical assessment, a certified professional adjudicator evaluates a student's performance of repertoire, studies (etudes), and musical proficiency skills. The assessments are graded, but not competitive, and include examinations in technical skills, music rudiments, sight singing, aural skills, theory, and history, which will complement the NATS Student Auditions program as an official assessment system of NATS. There are no participation costs for teachers, and teaching resources and materials are reasonably priced.

"As public funding for the arts erodes, many of NATS independent teachers find themselves in the position of becoming their community's principal music educator. The Achievement Program provides additional resources for them to become more effective in that role and to back their teaching with a national student assessment program," says NATS President, Donald Simonson.

The Achievement Program is a Lead Sponsor of the 2012 NATS National Conference, in Orlando from June 29-July 3, 2012, which will feature a rollout of the new fourth edition of the Voice Series.

"This exciting partnership represents our shared commitment to music engagement in communities across the country," said Dr. Jennifer Snow, Chief Academic Officer, The Achievement Program. "Both organizations believe in providing students of all ages with the comprehensive resources that they need to develop their musical skills and establish a lifelong love of music. We look forward to collaborating with NATS members across the United States to support ongoing excellence in music education."

For more information and to register, please visit www.TheAchievementProgram.org.