Piano Proficiency Requirements for MUS 122.20
Level II: Music Minors only
The piano proficiency requirement for the Music Minor may be satisfied in one of two ways:
1. Completion of MUS 122.20, Group Piano for Music Majors Level II.
Or
2. A Proficiency Exam consisting of the following:
• * All major and all three forms of white-key minor scales, two octaves, hands together, in steady rhythm.
• * Chord progressions: In major and minor keys up to four sharps or flats, the following progressions:
Major: I-vi-IV-ii-V-V7-I
Minor: i-VI-iv-iio-V-V7-i
Progressions must be in keyboard style, wherein the right hand plays 3 notes while the left hand plays the chord root.
Right hand may start in any inversion, but must thereafter move from chord to chord using closest-position voice leading.
• * Solo Performance: One piece at the repertoire level contained in Hilley and Olson PDM: Piano for the Developing
Musician, Chapter 8 or higher.
• Sight-read traditional folk and simple piano pieces.
• Harmonize melodies at sight using primary, secondary, and seventh chords. Chord symbols (lead sheet notation) will be
provided.
• * Harmonize one prepared example taken from general music series books, which can be found in the Teaching Materials
Center of the ISU library. At least three different chords must be used. To be performed in play-and-sing style, that is, you
play the accompaniment while singing the melody with text.
• Transpose at sight simple folk, traditional or popular songs up or down intervals of up to a third.
• * Improvise a blues-scale melody, and provide root-fifth bass accompaniment, to be performed with a MIDI background
(quarter note = 60). One 12-bar blues chorus in the key of G. One chord per measure, using the following progression: I-IV-
I-I IV-IV-I-I V-IV-I-I. Notes in the right hand must conform to the blues scale G, B-flat, C, D-flat, D, F. Go to
http://reneechernick.weebly.com/mus-12220.html to hear the MIDI background. There is a one-bar introduction in 4/4
meter, followed by two choruses of 12 bars each. You will only have to play one chorus.
* Sections marked with an asterisk should be prepared in advance.
Level II: Music Minors only
The piano proficiency requirement for the Music Minor may be satisfied in one of two ways:
1. Completion of MUS 122.20, Group Piano for Music Majors Level II.
Or
2. A Proficiency Exam consisting of the following:
• * All major and all three forms of white-key minor scales, two octaves, hands together, in steady rhythm.
• * Chord progressions: In major and minor keys up to four sharps or flats, the following progressions:
Major: I-vi-IV-ii-V-V7-I
Minor: i-VI-iv-iio-V-V7-i
Progressions must be in keyboard style, wherein the right hand plays 3 notes while the left hand plays the chord root.
Right hand may start in any inversion, but must thereafter move from chord to chord using closest-position voice leading.
• * Solo Performance: One piece at the repertoire level contained in Hilley and Olson PDM: Piano for the Developing
Musician, Chapter 8 or higher.
• Sight-read traditional folk and simple piano pieces.
• Harmonize melodies at sight using primary, secondary, and seventh chords. Chord symbols (lead sheet notation) will be
provided.
• * Harmonize one prepared example taken from general music series books, which can be found in the Teaching Materials
Center of the ISU library. At least three different chords must be used. To be performed in play-and-sing style, that is, you
play the accompaniment while singing the melody with text.
• Transpose at sight simple folk, traditional or popular songs up or down intervals of up to a third.
• * Improvise a blues-scale melody, and provide root-fifth bass accompaniment, to be performed with a MIDI background
(quarter note = 60). One 12-bar blues chorus in the key of G. One chord per measure, using the following progression: I-IV-
I-I IV-IV-I-I V-IV-I-I. Notes in the right hand must conform to the blues scale G, B-flat, C, D-flat, D, F. Go to
http://reneechernick.weebly.com/mus-12220.html to hear the MIDI background. There is a one-bar introduction in 4/4
meter, followed by two choruses of 12 bars each. You will only have to play one chorus.
* Sections marked with an asterisk should be prepared in advance.