Piano Proficiency Requirements for Music Majors
Piano proficiency placement for Music Majors
A basic level of piano skill is required of all music majors. Eventually, all students must pass Music 256.
The purpose of the piano proficiency requirement is to insure that students choosing to major in music will have the requisite skills to complete theory and keyboard assignments, as well as be prepared to use those skills in their future teaching. To be considered a music major students are required to pass the piano proficiency requirements. Students will be screened for placement during orientation and the first few class days of the semester.
A schedule for sign-up is posted every semester for this screening outside Room 246.
According to your piano background, you will be placed in one of the following options:
Option One
Online Theory (M190) is for students with very little musical experience. It is necessary to be able to read music pitches, rhythms, and chords before taking M156 (Basic Piano Skills).
Option Two
Basic Piano Skills (M156) is group instruction for those who read music or have a very rudimentary level of playing the piano. (Example: A student can read or play only one hand at a time and probably has had little or no formal instruction.) This class is not considered a requirement, but is, rather, remedial for students needing essential background to enroll in M256.
Option Three
Piano Skills (M256) is a second semester group piano course where students refine hand coordination, play hymns, easy note-against note classics and satisfy the piano proficiency requirements. (Example: For the student whose background includes several years of lessons [2-4 years] and can play easy two-hand folk tunes, simple chordal accompaniments and two-part hymns (“Hymns Made Easy”).
Piano Proficiency Requirements
I. General Playing Level
a. First movement of Clementi Sonatina Opus 36 #4 in F
b. March in D from Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach
c. A four-part hymn
d. Basic sight reading
II. Specific Skills
a. Develop enough skill at the keyboard to prepare a simple accompaniment to a band piece, choral piece, or art song with 24 hours preparation. (This requirement is part of methods courses.)
b. Play all major scales (one octave only).
c. Play I IV I6/4 V7 I progression in all major and minor keys.
d. Play all major and minor arpeggios in triplets.
e. Create an improvised two-handed accompaniment to a given melody or folk song.
f. Be able to read and realize simple symbols to accompany a melody. This could include all triads, dominant, diminished, and minor sevenths.