MUS 221 - Piano Techniques III

1. White key major and minor scales two octaves hands together in eighth notes at 72 bpm per quarter note using standard fingerings.
2. Black key major and minor scales two octave hands together in eighth notes at 72 bpm per quarter using standard fingerings.
3. All modes starting on any key, one octave one hand.
4. White key major and minor triads and inversions blocked in quarters and broken in triplets using standard fingering.
5. White key major and minor arpeggios two octaves hands separate.
6. All white key V7 chords blocked and two octaves broken hands separate.
7. White key Major and minor progressions utilizing primary chords and one or more secondary chords. Inversions included
   1. Primary chord cadence (I - IV6/4 - I - V6/5 - I
   2. Additional progressions including the ii7 - V7 - I progression, descending fifth progresions, descending third progressions, and progressions involving applied dominants utilizing keys up to three flats and sharps

3. Transpose short pieces up or down a second or third.

4. Read and perform three and four-part vocal scores.

5. Read 2-part instrumental scores utilizing transposing instruments.

6. Harmonize melodies using diatonic chords, applied dominants, and borrowed chords.

7. Improvise an accompaniment to a lead sheet that uses diatonic chords, applied dominants, and borrowed chords. 

8. Improvise simple melodies given a chord progression that uses primary chords and one or more applied dominants.

9. Play applied dominants, borrowed chords, the neapolitan chord, and augmented sixth chords and their resolutions in four voices following standard voice leading practices.

10. Perform four compositions from the standard piano repertoire for advanced beginners.

11. Students will present scholarly research on the interesection of keyboard skills and a career topic of their choice.

 
Course Outline:
I. Weeks 1 – 2

A. Review

1. CGDAE review (1 octave scales and Arpeggios and Cadences)

2. Score reading-two-part scores with alternate clefs

3. Transposition up or down by 2nd.

4. Emphasis should be placed on reading new pieces

5. Improvisation using diatonic harmony

6. Harmonization of simple melodies with primary chords and one secondary chord

II. Weeks 3 – 6

A. Literature performance

B. New technique: FB 2 octave hands separate scales, arpeggios hands together and

C. Cadences in FB: I IV6/4 V7 I and additional cadences utilizing secondary chords

D. Score reading: transposing instruments in 2 voices

E. Chord literacy: play and resolve borrowed chords and Neapolitan chords

F. Harmonization and Lead sheets with primary chords and 2 or more secondary chords

G. Transposition by 2^nd or 3rd

III. Weeks 7 – 10

A. Literature performance

B. New Technique:  2 octave scales hands together, arpeggios hands together

C. New Technique: Additional cadences utilizing secondary chords.

D. Score reading: 3 and 4-part vocal scores

E. Chord literacy: play and resolve borrowed chords, neapolitan chords, and augmented 6th chords.

F. Melodic improvisation: improvise antecedent and consequent phrases, improvise on modes. 

G. Harmonization and Lead sheets with secondary function chords

H. Transposition by 3rd

IV. Weeks 11 - 14

A. Literature performance

B. New Technique:  all black key scales, arpeggios and cadences, hands together 2 octaves

C. Additional cadences utilizing descending and ascending scales in the soprano voice and tonal progressions utilizing applied dominants.

E. Score reading: three and four-part vocal scores with alternate clefs; more complicated 2-part instrumental scores with transposing instruments.  

F. Harmonization and Lead sheets of melodies utilizing progressions utilizing applied dominants and other chromatically altered chords.

G. Transposition: contrapuntal pieces in more difficult keys

H. Project involving research into a career related topic of interest to the student.

Demonstration: 15-25%

Student practice and performance: 50-70%
Mandatory Course Components:
Individual practice outside of class is required - 2 hours per class period. A class presentation on the interesection of keyboard skils and a career related topic of interest to the student.
Equivalent Courses:
None