The instruction will be by lecture, demonstration, and supervised practice.
- Sight Reading
- To recognize and play notes on the staff.
- To recognize and play notes on ledger lines.
- To recognize and play chords at random.
- To play short melodies, hands separately and hands together.
- Transposition
- To transpose simple pieces, hands separately, up or down a major second or minor second, major third or minor third, using the principles of vertical and horizontal transposition; recognition of intervals and melodic patterns.
- Technique
- Development of individual finger control by the use of exercises, i.e. Hanon, Schmitt, Wieck etc.
- Scales – modal, major, natural minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor, using standard fingering, two octaves, 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.
- Arpeggios – major and minor, root position, two octaves, hands separately, legato.
- Keyboard Harmony
- Chord progressions in major and minor keys played in keyboard style: ex: I-V6/5-I-IV-I
- Simple improvisation.
- Harmonization of simple melodies.
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, basic chord progressions, ensemble playing, and simple repertoire.
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 midterm 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
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.
Full-time status in Basic Muscianship Program or instructor permission