Piano Proficiency Exam

All music majors seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Worship Studies, Music Education, and Music Performance are required to have four semesters of a secondary instrument. For non-keyboard primaries, this must be piano until the PPE is passed. Students who do not finish the PPE by the end of the 4th semester must remain enrolled in piano until they do so. If the PPE is passed prior to the 4th semester, another secondary must be chosen. Majors in Music Performance and Music Worship Studies may not schedule their senior recital prehearing until they have completed all portions of the PPE.

Students will pass Section A before taking their Sophomore Platform jury.

SECTION A

Scales and Chords (played from memory):

a) – Three major or harmonic minor scales in ascending chromatic order starting from any key requested by the faculty (RH: one octave with added ninth ascending and descending; LH: accompanying I-V6/5-I progression and pivot modulation chord); and

b) – With one hand, three major or harmonic minor I-IV6/4-I-V6/5-I progressions in ascending chromatic order starting from any key requested by the faculty, with pivot modulation chord; and

c) - With both hands, any diatonic triad from three different major or harmonic minor keys as requested by the faculty

Lead Sheet

Reading from a lead sheet provided by the faculty, the student will:

Harmonize the melody with the given chords.
Improvise an accompaniment pattern.
Transpose to another key as requested by the faculty.

SECTION B

Music Education majors must complete all portions of the PPE prior to student teaching. All others must complete the PPE prior to scheduling the senior recital prehearing.

Accompanying

The student, assisted by a fellow performer, will play a prepared original accompaniment in staff notation pre-approved by the faculty.

Choral Reading

The student will sight read a choral excerpt provided by the faculty, demonstrating the ability to read at least two parts of a four-part texture.