Piano Proficiency

Students in the Bachelor of Music in Performance and the Bachelor of Music in Composition are required to complete a minimum of 2 credits of MUS 150M at one credit per semester. They will receive a 30 minute lesson once a week. Any credits over two (2) will not count towards the degree. In order to enroll in MUS 150M they must have completed, or waived through examination, the class piano proficiency at the keyboard. The curriculum consists of basic technique, repertoire, accompanying, and sight-reading.

The course grade will be based, in part, on attendance, preparation, and progress. In order to complete the piano minor requirement the student must successfully perform a piano proficiency exam. This exam will be graded on a pass/fail basis and will not affect the student’s grade in MUS 150M. Successful completion of the piano proficiency exam is a graduation requirement for piano minors.

The piano proficiency exam, in the case of students who have had considerable piano background, may be used as a waiver for all piano minor requirements if passed (student will be expected to play everything required in the piano proficiency exam). The piano proficiency as a waiver must be completed before the first semester of scheduled piano study. The waiver exam should be scheduled on an individual basis with the Keyboard Area. The waiver exam must be completed during the first week of classes, before the end of the Add period.

Students will take a placement exam before beginning any piano courses; the placement exam will determine the appropriate placement in MUS 141, 142 or 150M. If a student chooses to enroll without taking the placement exam, they may only enroll in MUS 141. The piano proficiency exam may only be taken while the student is enrolled in MUS 150M.

TECHNIQUE

All major and harmonic minor scales. Hands together, parallel motion a minimum of two octaves. Scales must be performed in rhythmic groups of two, mm.80. Major and minor triad arpeggios in all keys, root position only. Hands together, parallel motion, four octaves. Arpeggios must be performed in rhythmic groups of two, mm.60.

 

REPERTOIRE

I. Keyboard composers before 1770

Little preludes or two-part inventions of J. S. Bach; or similar contrapuntal works by other composers.

 

II. Classical Period

Sonatinas or short sonatas of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Kuhlau, Clementi or other composers in this period.

 

III. Romantic, Impressionistic and Contemporary Periods

Bartok, Kabalevsky, or Prokofiev children’s pieces; Schumann, Album for the Young; easy works of Satie, Ravel, Debussy; other works of similar difficulty.

 

IV. Accompaniment

The student should work on accompaniments to compositions for the student’s major instrument.

The voice major must be able to sing and play his/her own accompaniment.

 

V. Sight-reading

Material should be chosen from school song books, hymns, easy four-hand music, and accompaniments

in the student’s performance field.

 

JURY EXAMINATION

A jury examination, including technique, repertoire (two compositions chosen from I-III on the above list), and sight-reading, will be required at the completion of each semester of study. The jury will be considered the final exam. The faculty/graduate students present will provide the student with written comments as well as a grade. The averaged jury grade will constitute 25% of the student’s grade in the course. Memorization is recommended but not required. Students playing from music must use original copies. Students must be prepared to perform complete movements.

 

THE PIANO PROFICIENCY EXAM

This exam will be administered on a pass/fail basis during the second semester of MUS 150M. The student must prepare all techniques listed above as well as one piece from each group I-IV. The accompaniment (a composition for the student’s major instrument) must be performed as an ensemble except in the case of voice. The voice major must play/sing his/her own accompaniment. Sight-reading will be an integral part of the exam and will be at a level consistent with the student’s abilities. Memorization is recommended but not required. Student’s playing from music must use original copies. Students must be prepared to perform complete movements.

 

In the event that the student does not pass this exam they may retake it but must play different repertoire.

The piano proficiency exam will be offered only during exam week in fall and spring semesters. In order to be certified for graduation the student must successfully complete the piano proficiency exam in the semester prior to that in which they expect to graduate. It is recommended that the piano proficiency exam be completed by the end of the junior year.