Course Descriptions
Select category below or search:
Piano Class
6PCL 101 (I, II-2) Piano Class I
Objectives: a complete orientation to the keyboard for beginning pianists.
1) Technique:
* keyboard topography and orientation; proper posture and hand position
* focus on hand, outer fingers 2-3-4 first, then 1&5, using blocked 5ths
* all white key major and minor 5 finger patterns, tonic triads in root position
* multiple exercises in elementary level articulation; introducing coordination between hands
* selected etudes using pentachords
* scale preparation exercises
* all white key major scales in 8th notes, hands together, 2 octaves
2) Repertoire:
* many folk songs in a variety of settings: hands alone, hands together, solo, and duet
* solo and duet pieces in increasing difficulty; composers include Kabalevsky, Turk, Bartok, and Gurlitt
* selected outside material, especially accompaniments from student's major repertoire
3) Fundamental Skills:
* exercises in grand staff reading
* many sight reading examples ranging from single line melodies to independent voices within major and minor pentachord range
* harmonization using blocked and broken 5ths and 6ths, scale tones 1, 5, and 7 and single tones
* keyboard style texture; transposition of selected melodies
* lead sheet harmonization
* all key signatures and theory work
* improvisation using the technical and theoretical material of these chapters
Please also see Class Piano website.
6PCL 102 (I, II-2) Piano Class II
Objectives: a continuation of the skills acquired in PCL 101; further mastery of the keyboard through increased technical abilities.
1) Technique:
* all white key minor scales (3 forms) in 8th notes, hands together, 2 octaves
* review all white key major scales in 8th notes, hands together, 2 octaves
* the chromatic, whole tone and pentatonic scales, hands alone
* 2 and 3 note slurs; some preliminary attention to arm rotation, wrist flexibility; more emphasis on posture, finger strength and independence
* all white key major and minor arpeggios, hands together, 2 octaves
* modes
2) Repertoire:
* songs arrangements using chapter material
* pieces at the late elementary to early intermediate levels, stressing hand independence, a broader choice of articulation, a wider dynamic range, scale passages, chords in root and inverted positions; composers include Heller, Diabelli, Duncombe, Beethoven, Kabalevsky, Bartok, Dring, and Caramia
* patriotic songs
3) Fundamental Skills:
* chord progressions: I-V-I; I-iii-IV-I-ii-I-V7-I; I-IV-V7-I; I-V-vi-iii-ii-I-V7-I; I-vi-IV-I-ii-I-V7-I
* lead sheet harmonization, with triads, and jazz chords; harmonization by ear
* use of primary and secondary chords with inversions: in keyboard texture mainly
* two-hand accompaniments
* chord progressions of increasing difficulty: modulation to the dominant, to the relative major, to the relative minor
* study of all 7th chords
* ear training, using traditional and jazz accompaniments
* sight reading, improvisation and work with primary, secondary, and jazz chord vocabulary
Please also see Class Piano website.
6PCL 103 (I, II-2) Piano Class III
Objectives: to broaden the technical, practical, and musical skills begun in PCL 101-102
1) Technique:
* all black key major scales, hands together in 8th notes, 2 octaves
* all corresponding triad arpeggios, hands together, 2 octaves
* all corresponding dom 7th arpeggios
* major and minor pentachord review
* further use of sustaining pedal
* broken chords
* further chromatic scale studies
2 ) Repertoire:
* solo literature at the early to mid-intermediate level, stressing multiple keys, longer forms, greater dynamic range, increased finger complexity, thicker textural densities, and varied compositional and historical styles; composers include Bach, Gurlitt, Haydn, Schubert, Mozart, Beethoven, Wilder, Kabalevsky
3) Fundamental Skills:
* continued emphasis on sight reading, and transposition in multiple styles, textures, keys;
* harmonization using keyboard (piano) style; chording accompaniments; jazz symbols
* chord progressions:
* improvisation exercises in solo and ensemble settings
Please also see Class Piano website.
6PCL 104 (I, II-2) Piano Class IV
Objectives: to develop further the techniques learned in PCL 103
1) Technique:
* all black key minor scales, (all 3 forms), hands together, 2 octaves
* all corresponding triad, hands together, 2 octaves
* all corresponding dom 7th arpeggios, hands together, 2 octave
* all corresponding dim 7th arpeggios, hands together, 2 octaves
* Baroque ornamentation
2) Repertoire:
* solo, duet, literature at the mid to late intermediate level
o Baroque (Chapter 5, pp.196-207)
o Classic (Chapter 6, pp.242-249)
o Romantic (Chapter 7, pp.287-298)
o Contemporary (Chapter 8, pp.335-346)
3) Fundamental Skills:
* modulation patterns to the dominant, and relative minor
* more secondary dominant progressions
* dim. chord study:
* harmonization traditional and jazz
* improvisation studies
* sight reading and transposition
* patriotic and Holiday Music
Please also see Class Piano website.
6PCL 105, 106 (I, II-2) Piano Class V, VI
For undergraduate students in the following majors: Music Education - General (non-pianists), Music Education - Vocal (non-pianists), Theory, and Composition. Also open to any other interested students who have completed PCL 104 or equivalent.
Objectives: to provide a more advanced level of keyboard instruction.
1) Technique: to be done in lab: up to 3#'s, 3b's in 105, all keys in 106
* major scales; minor scales (3 forms), hands together, 4 octaves in 16th notes
* major and minor triad arpeggios, hands together, 4 octaves in 16th notes
* dom and dim 7th chord arpeggios, hands together, 2 octaves in 16th notes
* other technical exercises as needed
2) Keyboard Skills: to be done in lab
* Advanced Harmonization: see MUE related choral accompaniments
* Sight Reading
3a) Repertoire: to be covered in private lessons: a minimum of three (3) pieces per semester
* Baroque-Classic-Romantic in PCL 105
* Romantic-Impressionistic-Contemporary in PCL 106
3b) Accompaniments: Students are encouraged bring piano accompaniments from their major instruments to study.
Please also see Class Piano website.