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ADVANCED KEYBOARD THEORY FOR PIANISTS

Instructors and Contact Information

Faculty supervisor:  Margaret Henry 

Office:  Messinger 214, mahenry@esm.rochester.edu
Intern:  Michael Callahan

             

Office Hours and Extra Help Sessions

I am happy to meet with students outside of class at any point during the school year, either for extra help at or to pursue additional course-related interests.  To set up an appointment with me, please email me or speak with me in class.

 

Course Texts

Students should purchase two course texts:  (1) Preparatory Exercises in Score Reading, by R.O. Morris and Howard Ferguson, and (2) Continuo Playing According to Handel, by David Ledbetter.  Both are available at the ESM bookstore on Gibbs Street.

 

Course Description

This course is intended for pianists who have already taken at least AP Theory I and are working toward a 4- or 6-year diploma in piano.  Fluent keyboard technique is assumed.  Skills learned in this course will be different from---but will indeed also inform and complement---those learned in applied piano study.  We will draw upon and reinforce concepts from written theory in order to develop versatility at the keyboard.  Students who successfully complete the course will be able to do the following:

  1. Play harmonic progressions taught in the written theory course (such as cadences, tonic expansions, sequences, etc.) at the keyboard in various keys.

  2. Read and idiomatically realize figured-bass symbols.

  3. Harmonize diatonic melodies in keyboard and chorale textures.

  4. Read scores in treble, bass, alto, tenor, and soprano clefs, and in two, three, and four voices.

  5. Improvise over given bass lines and harmonic patterns, including the lament bass.

  6. Reduce musical textures to underlying harmonic progressions, expand simple progressions into figuration preludes, and transpose music to other keys.

  7. Understand and apply the Rule of the Octave.

  8. Play modulations to closely related keys.

  9. Improvise parallel periods and simple Minuets.

  10. Realize jazz and pop lead sheets idiomatically, and play the blues.

 

Course Policies

This is an intense and fast-moving course that develops skills in several categories of keyboard musicianship.  Skills cannot be developed by “cramming,” but must rather be practiced consistently and diligently over time.  Students should set aside practice time every day of the week for this course.  Although the amount of time needed will vary from week to week and from student to student, most students should expect to spend 45-60 minutes daily in order to get the most out of this course.

 

Attendance Policies

Since the class meets just once a week, attendance at every meeting is crucial.  If students absolutely must miss class, they should contact me in advance to set up a time for us to go over the weekly assignment and cover the new material.

 

Grading Policies

There will be very little written work for this course, so grading will be based on students’ level of preparation on weekly playing assignments.  There is no absolute standard, but rather a sliding scale based on improvement, effort, and overall musical progress.  The grade will be weighted as follows:

  • Weekly Assignments and Announced Quizzes:  80%

  • Midterm Exam (in January):  10%

  • Final Exam (in May):  10%

If students will be absent on the day of an exam, they must notify the instructor at least one week in advance and make arrangements to perform at a different time.  If no advance notice is given, students will receive no credit for the exam.

 

Last updated: September 9 , 2008