Piano Proficiency Requirements

ANDREWS UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
INFORMATION SHEET: PIANO PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION

1. All non-keyboard music majors and minors must take and pass the Piano Proficiency Examination.
   • Organ and piano majors and minors are exempt from taking the Piano Proficiency Examination since examination material will be covered during the course of applied-lesson instruction.
   • Graduate students who can provide documented proof of having passed a similar Piano Proficiency requirement during their undergraduate studies are exempt from taking the Piano Proficiency  Examination
2. In order to satisfy the Piano Proficiency requirement, students may choose to take the Piano Proficiency Exam, or to enroll in and complete four semesters of MUPF 117-120 by the end of their second year with a minimum of B.
   • Incoming undergraduate students will declare their choice of exam or lessons during orientation week at the music office.
   • Incoming graduate students must either provide proof of having passed a similar Piano Proficiency on the undergraduate level, or declare their choice of exam or lessons during orientation week at the music office
3. Piano Proficiency Exam:
   • The content of the Piano Proficiency Examination will include technical, performance, sight-reading, and improvisation skills.  Students will be evaluated on each area. Students will receive a score for  each area; a passing score is 80%.
   • The exam is offered on the first Friday of classes
   • Students can only attempt the exam only once. If a student demonstrates mastery of all exam components, the Piano Proficiency requirement is satisfied
   • If a student does not pass all exam components, the faculty committee will determine how many semesters of Piano Proficiency are required (1–4) based on the number of exam components passed
4. Students are expected to fulfill the Piano Proficiency requirements before the end of the second semester of their sophomore year.  Students will not be allowed to register for upper-division classes (with the exception of ensembles or upper-division applied lessons) until the Piano Proficiency requirement has been fulfilled.
5. Written verification of successfully passing the Piano Proficiency Examination will be placed in the student’s file in the Department of Music Office.

 

ANDREWS UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
PREPARATION CHECKLIST FOR
PIANO PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION

All students will be responsible for the following:

1. All major and minor scales (harmonic) and arpeggios in all keys: 2 octaves, hands together, played in eighth-notes, with a minimum tempo of quarter note equal 60.

2. Harmonic progressions (I IV I V7 I) in all major and minor keys: hands together, played in quarter notes with a minimum tempo of quarter notes equal 60.

3. Harmonization of single-line melodies in both major and minor keys.
Demonstration of familiarity with various accompaniment styles.

4. Performance of 2 memorized pieces of contrasting periods and styles. Level of difficulty should be similar to works found in Piano for the Developing Musician (Hilley and Olson) or Music for Millions, volumes 17 and 27.

5. Sight-reading of pieces in appropriate style and tempo.

6. Hymn playing: students will be expected to sight-read hymns from the New Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal of an easy to intermediate level.

NOTE: Students are strongly advised to purchase The FJH Classic Scale Book (Victoria McArthur and Edwin McLean, ISBN: 1-56939-031-2) for materials covered in numbers 1 through 3 above.