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Level II Keyboard Proficiency Requirements

I. Repertoire/performance

Perform one solo piano piece

• Memory optional • Suggested source: Celebration Series: Level 2 Repertoire Album (2015) or

higher (call number MT 245.C45 2015 v.2). If selecting repertoire from a source other than the Celebration Series, you must secure approval of your selection from a keyboard faculty member in advance of the examination.

• Students whose primary instrument is piano, jazz piano, or organ are exempt from this requirement

II. Harmonization

1. Songs by ear

Prepare all five of the following songs by ear. You will be asked to play one. A. Happy Birthday

B. Um-Yah-Yah

C. Amazing Grace

D. Silent Night

E. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

• You may choose whether to play the melody with the RH and use patterned LH chords, or to sing the melody and use both hands to play a keyboard-texture accompaniment.

• The performance should display an understanding of functional norms of harmonic language, including primary chords and inversions. You may add secondary diatonic chords as applicable.

• Select any comfortable key other than C major.

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2. Lead Sheets

Prepare all five of the attached melodies using the given lead-sheet chords. Play the melody in the Right Hand and a chordal accompaniment in the Left Hand. You will be asked to play one of the examiner's choosing.

A.

B.

C.

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D.

E.

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III. Skills and Technique

1. Scales

Prepare all 14 of the following scales:

Majors Minors (harmonic form only) C G D A E c g d a e G♭ ♯ D♭ ♯ B F

• Two octaves up and down fluently

• Hands together

• Consistently demonstrate correct fingering principles

• For correct scale fingerings, see the appendix at the end of this document

2. Triad arpeggios in root position

Prepare arpeggios in all major and minor keys beginning on white notes.

• Two octaves up and down fluently

• Hands together

• Consistently demonstrate logical fingering principles

• For conventional arpeggio fingerings, see the appendix at the end of this

document

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3. Triad inversions

Prepare blocked triad inversions in all major and minor keys (see Ex.1)

• One octave up and down fluently

• Hands together

• Demonstrate logical fingering principles (the following example presents conventional fingering)

Example

4. Diatonic triad series

Play each of the diatonic triads from tonic up to tonic (see Ex.2)

• Hands together

• Major keys up to 3 sharps and 3 flats.

• Name each of the diatonic triads from tonic to tonic by letter name and quality (e.g. "I C major, ii d minor," etc.). You must name the triad before you play it.

Example

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5. Chord progressions Prepare both of the following chord progressions:

1. I – vi – IV – ii - I64 - V7 - I (prepare the RH in both positions)

Soprano begins on the first scale degree

Soprano begins on the third scale degree

2. I – iii – IV – I – ii6 - I 64 - V7 – I (soprano begins on tonic and forms a descending scale)

Example

• Keyboard style (one note in LH and three notes in RH)

• Major keys up to 3 sharps and 3 flats.

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IV. Sight Reading

Play one musical excerpt following two minutes of preparation.

• You may prepare in whatever manner you wish, including playing at the piano.

• Level of difficulty commensurate with Level Prep B repertoire (call number MT 245. C45 2015 Prep B).

V. Transposition

Play and then transpose the following pieces. At the examination, you will be asked to play one of the examiner's choosing.

• You will play the piece in its original key first and then transpose to a different

key with no more than 2 sharps or flats. The key of the transposition will be chosen by the examiner.

1.

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2.

3.