Keyboard Proficiency Exam

Keyboard proficiency examinations are required for all B.S. Music Education, B.A. Music/Voice Performance & Pedagogy, and B.A. Theatre/Music Theatre Performance majors. The exams are regularly scheduled during the final week before final exams in the Fall and Spring semesters but may be given in the first week of the Fall semester upon written request to the Department Chair. They are not administered at any other time. Students must perform the entire exam for their appropriate major. All proficiency exams will be recorded.

B.S. Music Education Majors

The keyboard proficiency exam is required of all music education majors and must be taken for the first time no later than the third semester in the Music Education Program. Students who do not pass the examination must retake it until it is successfully completed. Departmental approval for a student teaching placement is contingent upon successful completion of the keyboard proficiency examination.

Examination requirements for Music Education majors:

Prepared Piano Solo
Selection must be approved by piano instructor.

Technique/Keyboard Harmony

  1. Scales: all major and minor (natural, harmonic, melodic), hands together, one octave, traditional fingerings
  2. Chord progressions:
  • played as three-note chords (block chords) hands together
  • played as block chords in the right hand and single notes in the left hand
notes

Accompaniments

Play a chordal accompaniment for a melody without chord symbols. Select from list posted two weeks prior to date of exam. This accompaniment must use both primary and secondary chords and be played in the following three ways:
  • right hand melody, left hand chords
  • an accompaniment which does not include the melody, while singing the melody at the same time
  • transpose an accompaniment, as done in number two above, to a key selected by the faculty

Accompany a vocal or instrumental soloist at the level equivalent to prepared solo. (Prepared in advance)

Patriotic Songs (Obtain copies from piano instructor)
  • America
  • Choose one of the following:
    America the Beautiful
    The Star-Spangled Banner

  • Sight-reading
    • Read a melody and chord changes from a standard elementary song book or similar score, right hand melody, left hand chords.
    • Read all combinations of two parts of a four parts vocal score.
    • Transpose single instrument lines to correct pitch.

    B.A. Music/Voice Performance & Pedagogy Option Majors

    The keyboard proficiency exam is required of all majors in the Voice Performance & Pedagogy Option and must be taken for the first time no later than the third semester in the Voice Performance & Pedagogy Option. Students who do not pass the examination must retake it until it is successfully completed. Students may be awarded the B.A. Music Degree with an option in Voice Performance & Pedagogy only upon successful completion of the keyboard proficiency examination.

    Examination requirements for B.A. Music/Voice Performance & Pedagogy majors

    Prepared Piano Solo: Selection must be approved by piano instructor.

    Technique/Keyboard Harmony

    • Scales: all major and minor (natural, harmonic, melodic), hands together, one octave, traditional fingerings.
    • Arpeggios: all major and minor, right and left hand independently, one octave.
    • Chord progression: played as block chords in the right hand and single notes (root notes) in the left hand
      notes
    • Chord symbols: play a prepared song from a music theatre fake book, or other similar score, i.e. employing melodic line and chord symbols. Selection must be approved by piano instructor.

    Accompaniment

    Employing standard piano/vocal score, accompany a vocal soloist in a song from the standard vocal repertory. Selection must be approved by piano instructor.

    Sight-reading

    Read a melody written in the G Clef.
    Read a melody written in the F Clef.

    B.A. Theatre/Music Theatre Performance Option Majors

    The keyboard proficiency exam is required of all majors in the Music Theatre Performance Option and must be taken for the first time no later than the fourth semester in the Music Theatre Performance Option. Students who do not pass the examination must retake it until it is successfully completed. Students may be awarded the B.A. Theatre Degree with an option in Music Theatre Performance only upon successful completion of the keyboard proficiency examination.

    Examination requirements for B.A. in Theatre/Music Theatre Performance Option

    Technique/Keyboard Harmony

    • Scales: all major and minor (natural, harmonic, melodic), one octave, hands separate.
    • Arpeggios: all major and minor, one octave, hands separate.
    • Chord progression: played as block chords in the right hand and single notes (root notes) in the left hand.
      notes

    Accompaniment

    Accompany oneself singing in a music theatre song employing either standard piano/vocal score or melody with chord symbols (as in a fake book). Selection must be approved by piano instructor.

    Sight-reading

    Read a melody in the G Clef.
    Read a melody in the F Clef.
    Read a melody and chord changes from a music theatre fake book or similar score, right and melody, left hand chords

 

Music, Theatre and Dance Department. Silver Center for the Arts, 2nd floor. MSC 37. (603) 535-2334.

Plymouth State University. 17 High Street. Plymouth, New Hampshire 03264-1595
A member of the University System of New Hampshire.© 2006-2008. All rights Reserved.
This page was last updated: 3/14/2008