Instruction will be by lecture, demonstration and supervised practice.
- Scales: major and minor; two octaves, hands together. Contrary motion: major scales; two octaves.
- Triads and Inversions: major and minor; two octaves, solid and broken, hands separate.
- Dominant Sevenths and Inversions: one octave, solid and broken, hands separate.
- Diminished Sevenths and Inversions: one octave, solid and broken, hands separate.
- Arpeggios: major and minor: root position, two octaves, hands together.
- Chord Progressions: Use of Fr6, It6 and Gn6 chords; progressions modulating to closely related keys; use of N6 chord.
- Sight Reading: more complex random chords in treble, alto, tenor or bass clefs; block chords from four-part score, score reading up to four staves; hands together pieces with unlimited range.
- Transposition: simple pieces in any key, hands together.
- Harmonization: melodies, unlimited range incorporating appropriate accompaniment styles.
- Repertoire: easy pieces from the standard repertoire: Bach, Mozart, Schumann etc., unlimited range.
At the end of the course, the successful student will be able to demonstrate the fundamentals of keyboard sight reading, accompaniment, transposition, improvisation, keyboard harmony, technique and piano repertoire.
The grade will be calculated on the basis of progress made in the various aspects of the course as follows:
| Weekly progress* | 40% |
| Regularly scheduled quizzes (minimum of 4) | 20% |
| Mid-term exam | 15% |
| Final exam | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
*Frequent, short evaluations are designed to give feedback on newly learned material and skills, and will include demonstrations of tasks as outlined in the course content.
Attendance
As this is a skill-oriented course, regular attendance is required in order to develop fluent keyboard skills. Therefore, 100% attendance is desired. The failure to attend regularly will result in reduction of a final grade as shown below:
- 4 - 7 unexcused absences: minus 10%
- 8 or more unexcused absences: minus 15%
- students who miss 30% or more of scheduled class time will receive a final grade of UN (unofficial withdrawal)
A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor’s course Outline, which is available to students at the beginning of each semester.
Example:
- Frackenphol, Arthur. Harmonization at the Piano 7th Edition, Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1991.