Piano Proficiency Requirements
Level III: For all music majors except Music Education and BM Composition
The piano proficiency requirement may be satisfied in one of two ways:
2. A Proficiency Exam consisting of the following:
Level III: For all music majors except Music Education and BM Composition
The piano proficiency requirement may be satisfied in one of two ways:
- For students in the BA/BS and BM Performance (excluding BM Piano Performance) programs, completion of Level III Group Piano (MUS 122.30) with a grade of C or better. With this requirement, each area of the final exam must also be completed with a grade of C or better. For BM Music Therapy majors, completion of Level III with a grade of B or better. With this requirement, each area of the final exam must also be completed with a grade of B or better. Students who register for MUS 122.30 may not choose to proficiency out of the course during that semester.
2. A Proficiency Exam consisting of the following:
- * Major and all three forms of minor scales: two octaves with two hands in steady rhythm.
- Chord Progressions: At sight, major and minor chord progressions, which may contain secondary dominants and chords in specific inversions. The right hand must play 3 voices while the left hand plays the root. The right hand may begin in any position. Smooth voice leading and close-position chords must be used.
- * Solo Performance: one solo at the repertoire level contained in Martha Hilley and Lynn Freeman Olson, Piano for the Developing Musician, Sixth Edition, Chapter 10 or higher
- Sight-read traditional, folk, and popular songs or simple piano pieces.
- Score Reading: Sight-read a 3-part vocal (including tenor) or instrumental (including viola) score.
- Harmonize melodies at sight using primary, secondary and seventh chords. Chord symbols (lead sheet notation) will be given.
- * Harmonize one prepared example taken from General Music Series books, which can be found in the Teaching Materials Center in Milner Library. At least three different chords must be used, and it must be done in sing-and-play style, that is, you must sing the melody while you play an appropriate accompaniment style. See Prof. Chernick for additional information on this requirement.
- Transpose at sight traditional, folk, or popular songs up or down intervals of up to a third.
- Transposing instruments: Sight-read at “concert pitch” a transposing instrument part (such as A Clarinet, F Horn, or B-flat Clarinet).
- Improvise two-handed accompaniment, 16 measures, to be used for movement, such as skipping, swaying, or walking. Music should be suitable for use by a group of 7-year-olds. (See Piano for the Developing Musician Sixth edition p. 389 for examples.)