2008-09 - MSU College of Music - Michigan State University

Piano Proficiency – Requirement for Piano MinorStudents are required to complete a minimum of 2 credits of MUS 150M at one credit persemester. They will receive a 30 minute lesson once a week. Any credits over two (2) will notcount towards the degree.In order to enroll in MUS 150M they must have completed, or waived through examination, theclass piano proficiency at the keyboard. The curriculum consists of basic technique, repertoire,accompanying, and sight-reading.The course grade will be based, in part, on attendance, preparation, and progress. In order tocomplete the piano minor requirement the student must successfully perform a piano proficiencyexam. This exam will be graded on a pass/fail basis and will not affect the student's grade inMUS 150M. Successful completion of the piano proficiency exam is a graduation requirementfor piano minors.The proficiency exam, in the case of students who have had considerable piano background, maybe used as a waiver for all piano minor requirements if passed (student will be expected to playeverything required in the piano proficiency exam). The piano proficiency as a waiver must becompleted before the first semester of scheduled piano study. The waiver exam should bescheduled on an individual basis with the Keyboard Area Chair. The waiver exam must becompleted during the first week of classes, before the end of the Add period.Students will take a placement exam before beginning any piano courses; the placement examwill determine the appropriate placement in MUS 141, 142 or 150M. If a student chooses toenroll without taking the placement exam, they may only enroll in MUS 141. The pianoproficiency exam may only be taken while the student is enrolled in MUS 150M.TECHNIQUEAll major and harmonic minor scales. Hands together, parallel motion a minimum of twooctaves. Scales must be performed in rhythmic groups of two, mm.80. Major and minor triadarpeggios in all keys, root position only. Hands together, parallel motion, four octaves.Arpeggios must be performed in rhythmic groups of two, mm.60.REPERTOIREI. Keyboard composers before 1770Little preludes or two-part inventions of J. S. Bach; or similar contrapuntalworks by other composers.II.III.Classical PeriodSonatinas or short sonatas of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Kuhlau, Clementi orother composers in this period.Romantic, Impressionistic and Contemporary PeriodsBartok, Kabalevsky, or Prokofiev children’s pieces; Schumann, Album for theYoung; easy works of Satie, Ravel, Debussy; other works of similar difficulty.41