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Northern Kentucky University Piano Proficiency Guidelines and Form

Guidelines:

All Bachelor of , Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Arts degree students are required to complete the Piano Proficiency Requirements. It is recommended that students place a high priority on passing this Exam, set aside regular practice time and meet with the Class Piano tutor as necessary. Please do not ask for help or explanations during the exam. All technical requirements must be performed from memory. Students must achieve a letter grade of C or higher to advance to the next level.

OVERVIEW Part One: Final of Class Piano I Part Two: Final of Class Piano II Part Three: Final of Class Piano III Part Four: Final of Class Piano IV

The e-text, eNovative Piano, the official text for the NKU Class Piano sequence, is used as the principal reference in the Piano Proficiency Guidelines; however, materials used for testing may be taken, as appropriate, from other sources similar in level and purpose.

PART ONE (MUSM 132, Class Piano I Final) Students must score 75/100 to advance to MUSM 134: All technique must be performed from memory

1. Major/Minor Pentascales, all keys hands together; Two octave Major scales, hands separately, Keys of C, G, D, A and E with proper fingering at a moderate (at quarter note = 50, played in 8th notes)

2. Chromatic scale starting on any note (black and white), two octaves, hands separate, , with proper fingering, at a moderate tempo (at quarter note = 50, played in 8th notes)

3. Major/Minor Triads: Position and First Inversion, hands separately in all keys.

4. Repertoire You may choose any repertoire piece on or above the level of those found in: Celebration Series, Perspectives, Grade 1 (elementary) or any piece at or above the level 4 in eNovation Piano

5. Lead Sheet: Nursery Tune with I and V7 chords

6. Sight Reading: Four Star Sight Reading Series, Level 1. The excerpt may be in a major/minor key, up to two sharps/flats

7. Improvisation: Student improvises a on the Black Keys over accompanying chords played by the instructor

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Northern Kentucky University Piano Proficiency Guidelines and Form

PART TWO (MUSM 134, Class Piano II Final) Students must score 75/100 to advance to MUSM 232: All technique must be performed from memory

1. Major/Minor scales and arpeggios, two octaves in all keys, hands separate. Two Octave Scales in the Keys of C, G, D, A, E and F Major hands together with proper fingering at a moderate tempo (at quarter note = 50, played in 8th notes.)

2. Score Reading: Two part (one part in Alto or Tenor )

3. Transposition: Single Line of Instruments written in the Keys of B-flat, E-flat, F and A, prepared from an Orchestral or Chamber Music Open Score

4. Repertoire You may choose any repertoire piece on or above the level of those found in: Celebration Series Level 2 (elementary) or any piece at or above level 8 in eNovation

5. Chords and Inversions all major/minor keys a. , I-IV-V-I: Major Keys in the keys of C, G, and F using standard keyboard inversions in the LH and RH, HS b. Lead Sheet: Happy Birthday in the key of F Major using I, IV and V Chords from memory,

6. Sight Reading: Four Star Sight Reading Series, Level 2. The excerpt may be in a major/minor key, up to two sharps/flats

7. Improvisation: Student improvises a RH melody for 8 measures over block chords using I-IV-V7-I Progression,

PART THREE (MUSM 232, Class Piano III Final) Students must score 75/100 to advance to MUSM 234: All technique must be performed from memory

1. Major/Minor scales and arpeggios, two octaves, all Major scales and c, d, e, f, g, a, and b harmonic minor scales, hands together. C-sharp, E-flat, F-sharp, G-sharp and B-flat minor scales, hands separate tempo (at quarter note = 50, played in 8th notes.)

2. Score Reading: Three Part Open Score with one part in Alto Clef

3. Transposition: Play elementary level piece in the key of C or G, prepare to transpose up and down one whole step

4. Repertoire You may choose any repertoire piece on or above the level of those found in: Celebration Series Level 3 (early intermediate) or any piece at or above the level eNovation 10.

5. Lead Sheet: Hymn, Christmas Carole or Nursery Tune using I, V7/IV, IV and V7 Chords

6. Sight Reading: Four Star Sight Reading Series, Level 3. The excerpt may be in a major/minor key, up to two sharps/flats

7. Improvisation: Student provides an improvisation over an assigned ostinato bass. Page | 2

Northern Kentucky University Piano Proficiency Guidelines and Form

PART FOUR (Class Piano IV Final) Student must score 75/100 points to complete the Piano Proficiency, MUSM 296: All technique must be performed from memory.

1. Major/Minor scales and arpeggios, two octaves, all Major and Minor scales, hands together (Harmonic Form of the Minor Scales)

2. Harmonization: Lead Sheet and Supply Harmony: Harmonize pieces at sight (in the keys of C major, A minor, F major, D minor, G major, and E minor) with appropriate using primary and secondary triads, V7, ii6, V7/IV, V7/V chords in root position and inversions in the following ways: a. Lead Sheet: Melody in R.H. with L. H. broken chord ( indicated) b. Two-hand chordal accompaniment, LH plays the root of the chord, RH plays the chord in the appropriate inversion, melody is played by an adjudicator

Pieces chosen for examination may be similar to “Sweet Betsy from Pike” (eNovation 11) and “Red River Valley” (eNovation 16).

3. Collaborative Performance: Perform the piano part in collaboration with an instrumentalist or vocalist

4. Transposition: Transpose an instrumental line from a full chamber music/orchestral score to concert pitch. Examples will be chosen from B-flat Clarinet, Clarinet in A, Horn in F, B-flat Soprano Saxophone, E-flat Alto Saxophone, B-flat Tenor Saxophone, Trumpet in B-flat

5. Score Reading: Four Part Open Vocal Score

6. Sight Reading: Four Star Sight Reading Series, Level 4. The excerpt may be in a major/minor key, up to three sharps/flats

7. Improvisation and Supply Harmony to an assigned melody. Theme with plus an improvised variation

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Northern Kentucky University Piano Proficiency Guidelines and Form

Student: Year Matriculated: Degree Program: Major Instrument:

Skill P/F Faculty 1 Faculty 2 Date Part One Score Score 1. Maj/Min Pentascales HT, 2 Octave Scales HS 2. Chromatic Scale 3. Triads/Inversions 4. Repertoire: Level at eNovative 4 or higher 5. Lead Sheet 6 Sight Reading 7. Improvisation Part One Passed Part Two 1. Major/Minor Scales and Arpeggios 2. Score Reading 3. Repertoire: Level at eNovative 8 or higher 4. Transposition 5. Lead Sheet 6. Sight Reading 7. Improvisation Part Two Passed Part Three 1. Major/Minor Scales and Arpeggios 2. Three Part Score Reading 3. Repertoire: Level at eNovative 10 or higher 4. Transposition 5. Lead Sheet: Broken Chords V7 of IV 6. Sight Reading 7. Improvisation Part Three Passed Part Four 1. Major/Minor Scales and Arpeggios 2. Four Part Score Reading 3. Repertoire: Collaborative Performance 4. Transposition from open score 5. Lead Sheet: Broken Chords V7 of V 6. Sight Reading 7. Supply Harmony/Improvisation to a melody Part Four Passed Piano Proficiency Requirement Completed

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