Click here for info on the next Piano Proficiency Exam
1. Introduction
Piano Proficiency is an important part of the curriculum for B.M. degrees at Furman Univeristy. Please read the following instructions carefully, as they will help you to plan ahead and avoid unfortunate surprises which may interfere with your graduation. Please direct any questions to the Piano Proficiency coordinators: Dr. Ruth Neville (Ruth.Neville@furman.edu) or Dr. Daniel Koppelman (Daniel.Koppelman@furman.edu).
2. Music 72 (Piano Proficiency Class)
All students who intend to receive a B.M. degree (Performance, Music Education, Church Music, or Theory) must pass the Piano Proficiency Exam in order to graduate. Normally this is accomplished by taking three terms of Piano Proficiency class (Music 72F, Music 72W, Music 72 S) during the sophomore year. (NOTE: Music Education majors will not be allowed to student teach until they have passed the Piano Proficiency requirement.) Therefore, all students who intend to receive a B.M. degree are expected to enroll in these three terms of Piano Proficiency class in their sophomore year. Please note that in the three-term sequence, each course is a pre-requisite to the next course; failure to enroll at the appropriate time may mean a delay of a full year in fulfilling the Piano Proficiency requirement. Students enrolled in Music 72S will take the Piano Proficiency Exam as part of their Final Exam for the course; passing this Final Exam will fulfull the piano proficiency requirement.
3. Testing out of Music 72
Some students may be able to "test out" of one or more of these Piano Proficiency courses based on prior piano study. At the first class meeting of each term, there will be an opportunity to test out of the course for that term -- please attend the first day of the term if you wish to 'test out'. Updates on the 'testing-out' procedure will be posted to this web site. Sophomores intending to receive a B.M. degree who do not test out of the term are expected to enroll.
NOTE: Testing out of any or all terms of Mus 72 does not exempt anyone from taking the comprehensive Piano Proficiency Exam which is given at the end of Fall, Winter, and Spring semester for those students who do not enroll in the course.
FALL TERM Mus 72F TESTING:
Material covered will be all major scales (two octaves, hands separate)
chord cadence (I-IV6/4-I-V6/5-I) in all major and minor keys, harmonization
and transposition of melodies, sightreading.
WINTER TERM Mus 72W TESTING:
Material covered will be all major scales and white key, harmonic minor
scales (two octaves, hands separate), chord cadence (I-IV6/4-I-V6/5-I) in
all major and minor keys, harmonization and transposition of melodies, sightreading,
accompaniment to major scale in keys up to 4 sharps (#4 on Exam),
improvisation.
SPRING TERM Mus72S TESTING:
Material covered will be all major and harmonic minor scales (two octaves,
hands separate), chord cadence (I-IV6/4-I-V6/5-I) in all major and minor
keys, harmonization and transposition of melodies, sightreading, accompaniment
to major scale in keys up to 4 sharps and 4 flats (#4 on Exam),
improvisation and score reading (band or vocal).
4. The Piano Proficiency Exam
The Piano Proficiency exam consists of six components: scales, sight-reading, accompanying, harmonization/transposition, improvisation, and score-reading. For a full description of the requirements, with musical examples, click here.
The Exam will be offered at the end of every Fall, Winter, and Spring term, on study day, for those students not enrolled in Music 72. A sign up sheet will be posted on the keyboard area bulletin board outside Dr. Parsons's office, DMB 119. Materials for those parts of the test which require 48 hours preparation will be available in the Music Library.
Fall term Music 72 "test-out"
Some students may be able to "test out" of one or more terms of the
Piano Proficiency course based on prior piano study. All sophomore music majors
(exluding BA's) who have not passed the proficiency requirement and who are
not enrolled in Music 72 should come to the first class period to take the test.
If you do not test out of the class, you are expected to enroll in the class.
Please see above for details.
Proficiency Exam
The next Proficiency Exam for those students not enrolled in MUS 72 will
be Thursday, December 6, 2007. There will be a sheet for sign-up posted on the
Keyboard Area bulletin board outside Dr. Parsons' office, DMB 119. Materials
for pick-up 48 hrs in advance (harmony and transposition, score reading) will
be available in the Music Library.