NSU Piano Proficiency | |
Non-Keyboard Majors | Keyboard Majors |
1. Play cadence patterns hands together in all major and harmonic minor keys. (See Piano Pages, center column.) This item must be attempted before the end of the freshman year. | 1. Play cadence patterns and inversions hands together in all major and harmonic minor keys. This item must be attempted before the end of the freshman year. |
2. Play Happy Birthday by ear in F and G. This item must be attempted before the end of the freshman year. | 2. Play Happy Birthday by ear in F and G with a more elaborate LH accompaniment than a simple cadence pattern. This item must be attempted before the end of the freshman year. |
3. Play major and harmonic minor scales, hands together, two octaves up and down in the following keys: C G D A E B F (See Major Scales and Harmonic Minor Scales.) | 3. Play all major and harmonic minor scales hands together, four octaves up and down. Minimum tempo: Group of four 16th notes at 96. |
4. Play and harmonize an unmarked melody in a major key at sight using a left hand cadence pattern. | 4. Play and harmonize an unmarked melody at sight using a left hand cadence pattern. Be able to transpose it up or down a half-step or whole-step. |
5. Play and harmonize a melody from a lead sheet. The left hand uses root position major triads, minor triads, diminished triads, augmented triads and dominant seventh chords. | 5. Play and harmonize a melody from a lead sheet. |
6. Improvise in the following major keys: C D E F G A | 6. Improvise in the following major and harmonic minor keys: C G D A E B F The melody must go beyond the 5-finger pattern. |
7. Sight read a simple piano piece. | 7. Sight read an intermediate piano piece. |
8. Accompany a vocal or instrumental solo. Students are encouraged to fulfill this requirement in solo class or on a student recital. | 8. Accompany a vocal or instrumental solo. Students are encouraged to fulfill this requirement in solo class or on a student recital. |