Music Student Handbook
Keyboard Proficiency for Music Majors:
This proficiency requirement is satisfied by a test which the student should pass by the end of the sophomore year or take private piano until passing is achieved. The test MUST BE TAKEN prior to entering the Teacher Education Program (TEP). All music majors must pass Class Piano I & II (or its equivalent) and the Functional Piano Exam to graduate. The test will be administered by appointment with the piano faculty. Students are eligible to take the Functional Piano Exam:
- After completion of two semesters of class piano or two semesters of applied piano lessons.
- In the case of unusually well qualified entering pianists, permission to test may be granted by department consent.
Individual sections may be certified as the skills are mastered. Appointment for testing will be scheduled on an individual basis at the instructor’s discretion. Students are encouraged to complete testing requirements as early as possible in the sophomore year.
If not passed, the student must complete a remediation of Private Piano and will be allowed one final attempt. Failure to pass will result in dismissal from the music education major.
I. Functional Piano Requirement, Level I: Music Education Majors
(After Class Piano I & II)
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- Perform a simple piano solo in a musically acceptable style.
- Sight-read single lines from a vocal or instrumental score.
- Harmonize a simple melody at sight with I, IV, and V7 chords.
- Sight-read a simple vocal or instrumental accompaniment.
- Be able to improvise a piece using chord symbols.
- Play at least two of the following (with music) in a key and style suitable for Community singing:
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- America
- Star-Spangled Banner
- America the Beautiful
- Doxology
- University Alma Mater
- Amazing Grace
- Ode to Joy
- Battle Hymn of the Republic
- Prayer of Thanksgiving
- Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
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- Be able to play all major and harmonic minor scales with correct fingerings, two octaves, hands alone at a moderate tempo.
- Be able to improvise a melody in an easy key with a given chordal accompaniment.
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II. Functional Piano Requirement, Level II: Vocal/Choral Music Education
Majors (after two additional terms of study):
- Transposition
- Open score reading
- Bach Chorales
- Slightly more difficult repertoire
- An accompaniment for a standard piece (instrumental or vocal) that a high school student might take to solo/ensemble
Piano Principals should also be able to:
- Play from an open score
- Perform a Bach choral
- Perform a transposition
- Play an Accompaniment
- Perform legitimate repertoire
- Perform an improvisation
Final results for ALL should be found in the following places:
- Exam Letter in the student’s personal information file
- Examiner’s copy of Exam and Exam letter
- The student’s copies of Exam letter
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