I.                AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Piano (Music Education)

First Movement of Mozart sonata or equivalent from the Classical period
A Chopin nocturne or equivalent from the Romantic period
A J.S. Bach two-part or three-part invention or equivalent from the Baroque period
All major and minor scales and arpeggios, four octaves
Sight-reading

Piano (Music Performance)

The applicant is required to demonstrate performance potential by playing a memorized audition
One J.S. Bach prelude and fugue
First movement of a sonata of the Classical period, excluding Beethoven, Op.27, No.2 and Op.49
One Romantic compositions
One Impressionistic, 20^th century, or 21^st century composition
All major and minor scales and arpeggios, four octaves
Sight-reading

II.                   PIANO PROFICIENCY LEVELS

1.                    Music Education Majors

Technique

The following technique will be developed during the freshman and sophomore years:

•               All major scales played four octaves with two hands together in parallel and contrary motion, and four octaves parallel in 3rds, 6ths, and 10ths.

•               All natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales played four octaves with two hands together in parallel and contrary motion.  Also four octaves parallel in 3rds, 6ths, and 10ths

•               Major, minor, diminished 7^th and dominant 7^th arpeggios played with two hands together in parallel motion for four octaves. A minimum of five inversions are required for the triad arpeggios.  Example of arpeggio built on the note of “c”: C major (root position), a minor (1^st inversion), F major(2^nd inversion), f minor(2^nd inversion), Ab major(1^st inversion), c minor and C augmented

•               Two etudes equivalent to Czerny, Op.299 during the course of study.  May include an etude of Moszkowski, Chopin, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, etc. The etudes must be memorized.

Performance of the technique outlined above is a requirement of the Upper Division Audition normally taken at the end of the sophomore year.  Evaluation of this material will be both qualitative and quantitative.  The tempo of scales and arpeggios must be between quarter note = 80 and quarter note = 120.  Quality must match the tempo.  Students are not required to pass the technique portion of the Upper Division Audition until the semester before presentation of the senior recital.

Students are required to study several compositions by American composers.

Repertory

Freshman Level Proficiency 

Memorize at least 10 minutes of approved music each semester for a total of 20 minutes of approved music for the academic year.  Note that this requirement is in addition to the memorized etude described under technique.  Students on probation may be required to enroll for additional credit at this level until removed from probation in juries or audition.

Sample list of freshman repertoire:

•               A contrapuntal baroque piece such as any of the inventions from Fifteen Two-Part and Fifteen Three-Part Inventions by J.S. Bach

•               The first movement of a Classical sonata by Beethoven, Clementi, Haydn or Mozart

a slow Romantic piece such as the Chopin Preludes No. 4, 6, 7, 9, 15 (A major, e minor, b minor, c minor, and Db major)

•               A fast Romantic piece such as Chopin, Prelude No. 3 (G major)

•               An impressionistic, 20^th , or 21^st century composition such as Debussy, La Fille aux cheveaux deor Bruyeres, or one of Bartok, Six Rumanian Folk Dances (1915), Sechs Klavierstücke by Schönberg.

Sophomore Level Proficiency

Memorize at least 10 minutes of approved music each semester. Perform in a student recital at least three times during the sophomore year.

Sample list of sophomore repertoire:

•               Prelude and Fugue for the Well Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach

•                Complete Classical Sonata (three movements) by Beethoven, Clementi, Haydn or Mozart

•               A slow Romantic composition such as one of Franz Liszt, Six Consolations or Mendelssohn’s Songs without Words

•               A fast Romantic piece such as Franz Schubert, Impromptu, Op. 90, No. 2

•               An Impressionistic, 20^th, or 21^st century composition selected from Claude Debussy, Preludes (i.e., “Minstrels”) or one of Prokofiev’s Visions Fugitives, Op.22

Upper Division Audition

The upper division audition consists of a double-length jury and is normally taken at the end of the sophomore year.  The student will be evaluated in the following areas:

•               Sight reading: the student should be able to sight read at Level 5 as defined by the Royal Schools of Music publication for sight reading (example available in resource room)

•                Technique as outlined above

Sample repertoire as follows:

•               A Prelude and Fugue from J.S. Bach, Well Tempered Clavier or 3 sonatas by A. Scarlatti or Soler

•               A complete Classical sonata by Beethoven, Clementi, Haydn, Mozart, or C.P.E, Bach

•               A fast piece from the Romantic era; one Impressionistic, 20^th, , 21^st century piece

The entire upper division repertoire and technique must be performed from memory (certain contemporary compositions may be played with the score) at the same audition. Students may not enroll in junior level lessons until the repertoire requirements have been passed. However, students are not required to pass the technique portion of the upper division audition until the semester before presentation of the senior recital. The upper division audition will be heard by at least 2 members of piano faculty who will sign the Upper Division Audition evaluation sheet at the time of the audition.  Students may be required to enroll for additional lower division study if the level of performance at the audition is inadequate, if there is a record of generally poor performance at previous juries, or if technical skills are insufficient for upper division study.

Junior Level Proficiency

The student may enroll for this level only after having passed the Upper Division Audition.  Memorize at least 15 minutes of approved music each semester. Perform in a student recital a minimum of three times during the junior level.

Sample list of junior repertoire:

•               Sonatas by Scarlatti

•               French Suites by Bach

•                Nocturnes, Mazurkas, Waltzes, Polonaises by Chopin

•               Sonatas by Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, or Chopin,

•               Preludes Books 1 and 2 by Debussy

•               Five Piano Pieces, Op. 23 by Arnold Schoenberg

Senior Level Proficiency

Continuation of Junior Level repertoire. Must memorize at least 15 minutes of approved music each semester. Perform on a student recital a minimum of three times during enrollment in senior level.

Senior Recital

The student must be enrolled in senior level lessons at the time of the recital.  The senior recital includes at least 30 minutes of music and is to be performed entirely from memory. It should include compositions from contrasting style periods; students are encouraged to include at least one composition by an American composer.  May include one movement of a concerto.

2.                Performance Majors

Technique

The following technique will be assigned during the freshman and sophomore years:

•               All major scales playedfour octaves with two hands together in parallel and contrary motion and four octaves parallel in 3rds, 6ths, and 10ths

•               All natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales played four octaves with two hands together in parallel and contrary motion and four octaves parallel in 3^rd, 6ths, and 10ths

•               Major, minor, diminished 7^th and dominant 7^th arpeggios played with two hands together in parallel motion for four octaves, a minimum of five inversions are required for the three note arpeggios.  Example of arpeggio built on the note of “c”: C major (root position), a minor (1^st inversion), F major, (2^nd inversion), f minor (2^nd inversion), Ab major (1^st inversion), c minor and C augmented

•               An etude equivalent to Czerny, Op. 299 each semester. May include an etude of Moszkowski, Chopin, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, etc. The etude must be memorized.

Performance of the technique outlined above is a requirement of the upper division audition normally taken at the end of the sophomore year.  Evaluation of this material will be both qualitative and quantitative.  The tempo of scales and arpeggios must be between quarter note=80 and quarter note=120. 

Quality must match the tempo.  Students are not required to pass the technique portion of the upper division audition until the semester before presentation of the Senior Recital

Repertoire

Freshman Level Proficiency

The student must memorize at least 20 minutes of approved music each semester for a total of 40 minutes

approved music for the academic year.  Note that this requirement is in addition to the memorized etude described under technique.  Students on probation may be required to enroll for additional credit at this level until from probation in juries or audition.

Sample list of freshman repertoire:

•               Prelude and fugue from J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier

•                Complete Classical Sonata by Clementi, Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven (except Op. 49, No.1 and Op.49, No.2)

•               Slow Romantic piece such as a  nocturne by Chopin

•               Fast Romantic piece such as Liszt, “Waldesrauschen” (“Forest Murmurs”)

•                Impressionistic, or 20^th century piece, or 21^st century, such as any of Debussy’s 24 Preludes, Poulenc’s Huit Nocturnes, or Bartok’s Allegro Barbaro, or selections from the Carnegie Millennium Book

Sophomore Level Proficiency

Memorize at least 20 minutes of approved music each semester.  Perform in a student recital at least three times during the sophomore year.

Sample list of sophomore repertoire:

•               Prelude and fugue from J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier

•               A complete Classical sonata by Beethoven, Clementi, Haydn or Mozart

•               A slow Romantic piece such as an Intermezzo by Brahms

•               A fast Romantic piece selected from Etudes by Chopin, Debussy, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, etc.

•               An Impressionistic or 20^th century piece, or 21^st century such as Debussy, “Reflets dans I’eau” from Images (1905) or Serge Prokofiev’s Suggestion Diabolique, Op.4, No.4, or selections from the Carnegie Millennium Book

Upper Division Audition

The upper division audition consists of a double-length jury, normally taken at the end of the sophomore year.  The student will be evaluated in the following areas:

•               Sight reading: The student should be able to sight read at Level 7 as defined by the Royal School of Music

Sample Repertory:

•               A prelude and fugue from J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier or 3 or 4 sonatas by D. Scarlatti

•               A complete Classical sonata by Beethoven, Clementi, Haydn, or Mozart

•               A fast piece from the Romantic period to demonstrate virtuosity

•               A slow piece from the Romantic period to demonstrate musical acuity

•               An Impressionistic, 20^{th, or}  century, or 21^st century piece

The entire upper division repertoire must be performed from memory at the same audition. Students may not enroll in junior level lessons until the repertoire requirements have been passed. The technique portion of the upper division may be played with the repertory, or performed later. However, it must be passed before the semester of the presentation of the Senior Recital.  The upper division audition will be heard by at least 2 members of the piano faculty who will sign the Upper Division Audition evaluation sheet at the time of the auditions.  Students may be required to enroll for additional lower division study if the level of performance at the audition is inadequate or if there is a record of generally poor performance at previous juries or if technical skills are insufficient for upper division study.

Junior Level Proficiency

The student may enroll for this level only after having passed the upper division audition. Memorize at least 30 minutes of approved music each semester. Perform in a student recital a minimum of three times during the junior level,

Sample list of junior repertoire:

•               Sonatas by Scarlatti

•               French Suites, English Suites or Partitas by Bach

•               Sonatas, rondos, variations, and fantasies by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven,

•               Scherzi, etudes and polonaises by Chopin, or R. Schumann’s Etudes en forme de variations (Etudes Symphoniques)

•               Sonatas by Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, and Prokofiev,

•                Preludes, Books 1and 2 by Debussy

•               Aaron Copland’s Variations, Anton Webern’s Variation, Op.27 or Arnold Schoenberg’s Five Piano Pieces, Op. 23

Junior Recital

Present a junior recital of at least 45 minutes, performed form memory.  Include approved compositions from contrasting style periods. Compositions by an American composers are encouraged

Senior Level Proficiency

Senior level must include new repertory. Memorize at least 30 minutes of approved music each semester. Perform in a student recital a minimum of 3 times during enrollment in senior level.

Senior Recital

Should be of a minimum of 60 minutes playing time. The student must be enrolled in senior level lessons at the time of the recital.  The senior recital is to be performed entirely from memory, including one movement of a concerto, or a chamber music with a significant piano part, and compositions from contrasting style periods. Compositions by American composers are encouraged.