Music 105-Basic Piano II
Spring, 2008 Course Syllabus
MW 8-8:50 Room FA 143
Instructor: Garnet Ungar, Rm 129, Tel. 488-2228, E-mail: gu2@evansville.edu

Final Exam       Class Schedule and Office Hours       Ungar Home Page       Scale and Arpeggio Fingerings

Required Materials
Hilley, Martha and Lynn Freeman Olson. Piano for the Developing Musician. 6th edition. Wadsworth: Belmont, 2006.
Notebook (or a section thereof).
Manuscript paper.

Course Description
Group instruction in piano with simple literature and the development of piano skills. Designed to prepare for the Piano Proficiency I exam.

Course Objectives
The main purpose of this course is to improve the student's abilities in technique, sight reading, harmonization, transposition, and improvisation at the piano. Secondary but important objectives are to improve practice habits, mental discipline, and personal responsibility; and to cultivate a sense of ease and enjoyment at the piano.

Related IDEA form objectives
2. Learning fundamental principles, ideas, or theories (important)
4. Developing specific skills, competencies, and points of view needed by professionals in the field of music (essential)
6. Developing creative capacities (important)

Course Outcome
By the end of the semester, the student should be able to perform all of the materials listed in the final exam in a steady rhythm, without stopping, with reasonable accuracy.

Teaching Methods
Classes consist of a combination of lecture/demonstration by the instructor, individual coaching of students, individual practice, and ensemble playing. The areas of competency mentioned under "Course Objectives" are covered in a rotating fashion to ensure ongoing development of these skills. This course involves learning various new musical skills on a new instrument, and moves at a fast pace. Therefore, it is essential that class instruction be reinforced by consistent individual practice. Students should be aware that playing the piano involves physical as well as mental conditioning, and that regular practice is essential.

Evaluation Method
Assignments 50%
Mid-semester exam 20%
Final exam 30%

Grading Scale:
93-100% A 90-92% A- 87-89% B+ 83-86% B 80-82% B- 77-79% C+
73-76% C 70-72% C- 67-69% D+ 63-66% D 60-62% D- 0-59% F

Absences
Attendance at all classes is expected. One unexcused absence without penalty is permitted. Further unexcused absences will result in the reduction of the course grade by a minus, for example, a grade of B+ becomes B. It is the responsibility of the student to make up the work from missed classes. Missed assignments must be made up within one week of the due date, otherwise a grade of zero will be assigned for that assignment.

Final (Piano Proficiency I)

Certain components of this exam will be completed in class (see April 14, 28 above). Students are encouraged also to complete the rest of the components during class time, if possible.

Technique: All major and minor arpeggios, hand-over-hand, 4 octaves in triplet eighth notes, quarter note=60.
All major and A, D, and E minor scales (all three forms), hands together, 2 octaves in quarter notes, quarter note=100.
Chromatic scale, two octaves, hands together, starting on C in quarter notes, quarter note=100.
download fingerings

Repertoire: Chromatizone Rag, PDM pg. 284[272], memorized, quarter note=90 or one piece of comparable or greater difficulty, memorized (waived upon successful completion of applied keyboard jury). download page 1   download page 2

Chord Progressions: I V7/IV IV ii65 I64 V7 I in C major, G, major, A minor, B Minor, keyboard style (1 voice in the left hand, 3 voices in the right hand, no parallels 5ths or octaves, smooth voice leading).
Students may not play using written out chords. In whole notes, quarter note=100.
One progression to be played at sight, using root position primary chords, keyboard style.

Harmonization: "Solemn," handout, in indicated style, quarter note=50. download

Transposition/score reading: "Allegretto," handout, both parts, quarter note=40. download

Improvisation: Left hand chords and right hand improvisation in F Major from PDM 182 (middle section), quarter note=60. download

Accompaniment: The Chrysanthemum, handout, piano part only, quarter note=50. download

Sight Reading: A piece at the approximate level of PDM pg. 47.

Exams       Class Schedule and Office Hours       Ungar Home Page       Scale and Arpeggio Fingerings