Piano Proficiency Packet (Sample)

Piano Proficiency Examination Requirements SAMPLE Effective Fall 2006

Scales All major and harmonic minor Two octaves, ascending and descending, hands separately. scales Performed with a steady tempo and with correct fingerings. MINIMUM tempo should be quarter note = 108 (Eighth note = 54) Chord Progression I-IV-V7-I, i-iv-V7-I, in all keys Three chord tones in right hand, root in left hand. Three chordal positions in right hand. Must use pedal. Patriotic Songs Star Spangled Banner Must use approved editions. America (memorized) Prepared Three melodies suitable for You will be given the melodies one week prior to the exam. Harmonizations classroom use, each: One harmonized melody must be in a minor key. 1) in the original key Accompanists must follow basic principles of harmonization and 2) up one whole step voice leading. You should use tonic, subdominant and dominant 3) down one whole step chords as much as possible. Other chords are possible. You will be graded on the choice of appropriate chords as well as the quality of performance. Minimum block chord usage is preferred. These are permitted to be written out and used during the examination. Improvisations Three improvisations: At least one improvisation must be in minor, and ALL must be in keys 1) a waltz of AT LEAST two sharps or flats. 2) a march Each Improvisation must be at least two phrases long, with at least 3) a “mood” piece chosen by the four measures per phrase. student (happy, sad, suspenseful, One example MUST use a secondary dominant correctly, or a tired, etc…) modulation. Improvisations MAY NOT be written out. Sight Reading of a The example will be taken from a Emphasis is placed on a steady tempo (as if you were accompanying a Chorale/Hymn standard hymnal or appropriate class or other group of singers) and musical continuity. collection of arrangements

SAMPLETransposition Transpose on sight a simple Emphasis is placed on steady tempo as well as the accuracy of pitches melody. The transpositions will and rhythms include: 1) Up one whole step 2) Down one whole step 3) Down a major sixth 4) Down a perfect fifth. Prepared Solo A solo piano piece at the late Must be approved in advance of the exam. beginning or early intermediate Emphasis is placed on overall musicality. level (Keyboard majors are exempted from this requirement)

Class Piano Requirements/Piano Proficiency All music majors (with the exception of piano majors) are required to enroll in Class Piano (Music 131/132 and Music 231/232) to prepare them to pass the Piano Proficiency Examination. This examination is usually taken at the end of the fourth semester, but may be delayed until the student feels they are sufficiently prepared. If the exam is delayed the student must continue to be enrolled in the appropriate piano course. (Music 231/232).

Once the student passes the exam, they are no longer required to take class piano. Students who achieve a “partial pass” on the exam are required to enroll in Music 225: Piano Proficiency to continue working on those components of the exam that they did not pass. They must continue to enroll in Music 225: Piano Proficiency until they pass all components of the exam.

Students who have partial passes will be left on the books for a maximum of 3 years from the time they initially were given the partial pass. Once that time expires, they will have to retake the entire exam.

Students who do not successfully complete Music 131/132/231/232 will enroll in a “XXX-40” section the following term and then re-enroll in the courses they did not complete the following semester. The “XXX-40” sections do not count as an official enrollment for the course.

BME majors must pass the proficiency exam before they are allowed to student teach. BM majors must pass the exam before they are allowed to give their Senior Recital. SAMPLE Harmonic Scale Traditional Fingering Chart (Two Octaves)

Key Fingering Key Fingering a RH 1231234 12312345 d RH 1231234 12312345 LH 5432132 14321321 LH 5432132 14321321 e RH 1231234 12312345 g RH 1231234 12312345 LH 5432132 14321321 LH 5432132 14321321 b RH 1231234 12312345 c RH 1231234 12312345 LH 4321432 13214321 LH 5432132 14321321 f# RH 3412312 34123123 f RH 1234123 12341234 LH 4321321 43213214 LH 5432132 14321321 c# RH 3412312 34123123 bb RH 4123123 41231234 LH 3214321 32143213 (a sharp) LH 2132143 21321432 g# RH 3412312 34123123 (a flat) LH 3214321 32143213 d# RH 3123412 31234123 (e flat) 2143212 21432132

SAMPLEPiano Proficiency Chord Progression

Root Position

& w w ww w w w w w w ? w w w Roman numerals: I IV V7 I Letter symbols: C F G7 C

First Inversion w w w w & w w ww w

? w w w w I IV V7 I C F G7 C

Second Inversion w w w w & w w w w

w ? w w w I IV V7 I C F G7 C Patriotic Songs America

5 4 5 5 4 3 4 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 # j j & 43 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ. œ œ P œ œ ? # 3 œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ. œ œ 1 œ ˙ œ œ œ. #œ 4 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 4 2J 5 3 4 5 5 4 3

5 5 2 5 4 3 2 # œ . œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ & œ ˙œ œ ˙. J œ F œ œ œ ˙. œ œ œ ˙ œ ? # œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ 2 1 œ1 1 1 ˙ œ œ 5 1 œ1 1 5 5 4 2 œ5 3 2

5 3 5 5 2 4 4 3 1 4 10 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 # j j œ & œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ ˙. f j ? # œ ˙ œ. œ œ œ œ œ ˙. ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ. 1œ 1 ˙ œ 1 1 4 3 5 5 Patriotic Songs Star Spangled Banner

5 3 3 1 4 1 1 4 2 2 1 b b 3 œ. & b b 4 œ. œ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ nœ ˙ f ˙ œ ? b b 3 œ. œ ˙ nœ ˙ ˙ œ b 4 œ 1 œ b 1 ˙ œ 2 1 2 5 ˙ 4 2

5 3 4 5 1 1 2 3 4 j bb b œ. œ & b œ. œ œ ˙ œœ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ. œ ˙ œ œ œ ? b b œ ˙ œ œ œ. b œ œ1 1 1 œ1 2 œ œ b œ. 1 2 4 œ 1 J4 3 5

5 3 1 4 9 3 1 1 2 2 1 b b œ. & b b œ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ nœ ˙ ? b b œ ˙ nœ ˙ œ ˙ œ b b ˙ œ1 2 œ 1 5 ˙ 4 2

5 3 4 13 1 1 3 2 3 1 j bb b œ. œ œ œ & b œ. œ œ ˙ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ P . ˙ œ œ ? b b œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ b œ œ1 1 1 œ1 2 œ 1 b œ. 1 2 4 œ 4 J4 3 5

5 3 4 21 1 1 4 1 2 2 2 b b j & b b œ. œ œ ˙ œ œ œ. œ œ ˙ œœ œ œ nœ ˙ œ œ. œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ ? b b œ ˙ œ œ œ ˙ œ b b œ. œ 1 1 1 1 œ 2 1 2 4 4J 3 2

4 5 5 5 5 4 3 5 1 1 25 1 1 2 1 1 1 U b b œ & b b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ f ? b œ œ œ ˙ nœ œ œ œ œ œ ˙œ œ œ b b œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ nœ 2 œ b œ 4 1 1 1 1 u 4 5 4 3

5 4 5 3 3 4 5 4 1 2 29 1 1 1 1 1 U j b b j œ ˙ œ & b b œ. œ œ œ œ œ. œ ˙ ˙ œ ˙ œ nœ œ. œ œ ˙ ƒ 1 1j 1 œ. œ œ1 ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ ? b b œ. ˙ œ ˙ œ b b œ œ œ 1 1 ˙ 1 1J u 2 5 4 SAMPLEHarmonization Melodies 1

## 6 j j j ‰ & 8 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ

# # j j ‰ b & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ

& b œ œ 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ

œ œ b & b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ b b

3 b j j b b j 6 nœ nœ œ j j j j . & œ 8 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

bbb œ j œ j j j j nbb 2 & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 4

4 b & b 42 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

b œ # & b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ

5 # j 3 œ. œ & œ 4 œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ

# œ 2 ∑ n & œ œ œ œ œ œ 4 ˙

4 œ & œ 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ #œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙

& œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ SAMPLESight Reading Example

Thy Works, How Beauteous Oliver

4 œ ˙ & b 4 ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ w ˙ œ œ

˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ w ˙ œ œ ? b 4 ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ w ˙ œ œ

& b ˙. œ n˙ ˙ w ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙. œ ˙ ˙ w ˙ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙. œ ˙ w ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ ? b ˙ œ ˙ w ˙ œ œ ˙

11 b œ w ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ & ˙œ œ œ œ w ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ww ˙œ œ œ˙ w ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ w ? b œ w ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ w

Allegretto Poland

b 2 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & 4 œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ

& b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙