Course

Introductory Class Piano I

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Music
Course code
MUSC 1160
Credits
1.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
16
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Tutorial
Typically offered
Fall

Overview

Course description
A progressive study of learning to play the piano for students who possess no previous experience. The course includes technique, keyboard harmony, sight reading, transposition, and the playing of appropriate repertoire.
Course content
  1. Sight Reading
    • To recognize and play notes on the staff.
    • To recognize and play notes on ledger lines.
    • To recognize and play intervals and triads at random.
    • To play short melodies, hands separately and hands together.
  2. Transposition
    • To transpose simple pieces, hands separately, up or down a major second,  minor second, major third or minor third, using the principles of vertical and horizontal transposition; recognition of intervals and melodic patterns.
  3. Technique
    • Development of individual finger control by the use of exercises, i.e. major and minor pentascale studies, Hanon, Schmitt, Wieck etc.
    • Scales  – modal, major, natural minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor, using tetrachord fingering, one octave, hands separately. The scales will be played with legato, portato and staccato touch.
    • Triads  – major and minor, root position and inversions, solid and broken form, one octave, hands separately, legato touch.
  4. Keyboard Harmony
    • Simple improvisation.
    • Triad construction: major and minor
Learning activities

The instruction will be by lecture, demonstration, and supervised practice.

Means of assessment

The grade will be calculated on the basis of progress made in the various aspects of the course:

  • 60% of the mark will be based upon regular evaluation (minimum of 1 per week).
  • 15% of the mark will be allotted for a mid-term examination.
  • 25% of the mark will be allotted for a final in-class examination.

Attendance:

As this is a skill-oriented course, regular attendance is required in order to develop fluent keyboard skills. Therefore, 100% attendance is desired. The failure to attend regularly will result in reduction of a final grade as shown below:

  • 4 unexcused absences: minus 10%
  • 6 unexcused absences: minus 15%
  • 8 unexcused absences: minus 20%
  • 10 unexcused absences: minus 25%
  • 12 or more absences (excused or unexcused) will result in a 'UN' grade
Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the successful student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of, and skills in, the fundamentals of keyboard sight reading, simple transposition, technique, phrasing and articulation, and simple repertoire.

Textbook materials

A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor’s Course Outline, which is available to students at the beginning of each semester. Example: current edition, Mach, Elyse. "Contemporary Class Piano" Oxford UP, New York.  

Requisites

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

Full-time status in Basic Muscianship Program or instructor permission

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for MUSC 1160
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU MUS 114 (1)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU MUSI 1XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) No credit
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) No credit
University of Northern BC (UNBC) No credit
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC MUS 1XX (0.5)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025