NASM requirements dictate that all music majors must acquire keyboard competency, and music majors are required to pass the Piano Proficiency Exam before graduation. Music Education majors must pass the Piano Proficiency Exam prior to requesting a Clinical Experience placement.
The Piano Proficiency Exam will be offered each semester during jury week, and students are strongly advised to enroll in class or studio piano as a music elective until the Piano Proficiency Exam is passed.
Two piano proficiency offerings are scheduled each semester. Dates will be announced via email to students in the Department of Music, with the first typically in October/November and the second during Finals Week.
Bachelor of Arts in Music piano proficiency requirements
- All major and minor scales, two octaves, hands together in parallel motion, performed at a metronome marking of quarter note = 110, one note per beat
- Primary chord progressions in all major and minor keys using the sequence I, IV6/4, I, V6/5, I.
- All major and minor arpeggios, two octaves, hands together in parallel motion, performed in all major and minor keys.
- Play the I, IV6/4, I, V6/5, I cadence in all major and minor keys
- A prepared piece from the Piano Proficiency repertoire list, or equivalent, as determined by a member of the piano faculty. The piece is to be memorized.
A following list of sample pieces of the acceptable level include: Bach-Prelude in C major and Minuet in G Major, Kabalevsky-Toccatina, Satie-Gymnopedie no. 1, Clementi, Sonatina Op. 36 no. 1 in C major, Schumann-The Happy Farmer and Traumerei.)
Commercial music students may also choose a pop/rock/jazz piece to be prepared and memorized, which is acceptable to fulfill the proficiency repertoire requirement.
Bachelor of Science in Music Education piano proficiency requirements
- All major and minor scales, two octaves, hands together in parallel motion, performed at a metronome marking of quarter note = 110, one note per beat
- All major and minor arpeggios, two octaves, hands together in parallel motion, performed in all major and minor keys.
- Play the I, IV6/4, I, V6/5, I cadence in all major and minor keys
- Harmonize a symbol-free melody at sight, using at least the primary chords. Students will harmonize a symbol-free melody at sight, using primary and secondary chord functions to demonstrate appropriate theoretical knowledge. The harmonization is electronically-emailed to students 24 hours in advance of the examination.
- Play the following patriotic songs from memory: Star Spangled Banner in the keys of Bb and Ab, America the Beautiful in the keys of C and Bb, and America in the keys of F and Eb