Course Syllabus

MUSC 1050 Class Piano Fundamentals

Course Description

Class Piano Fundamentals introduces music major students to beginning piano skills prior to starting the four-semester, Class Piano sequence (I-IV). All music majors must take a piano assessment placement test prior to enrolling in any section of Class Piano. Students will be placed in the appropriate semester of Class Piano after completing the initial assessment. (Additional fee required)
Repeatable for Credit

Justification

The course is for music majors to learn the basics of music notation and elementary keyboard skills. This elective course in the Class Piano series will help students with little or no piano background to progress toward piano proficiency and may be chosen to precede enrollment in Class Piano I - MUSC 1150. Piano proficiency is a requirement for all National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) accredited institutions. The course is designed for music major students who are enrolled in Music Theory I during Spring semesters.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate basic piano technique, including good hand position and posture.
2. Students will demonstrate basic piano skills, including the playing of major and minor scales, arpeggios, chords, and chord inversions.
3. Students will demonstrate basic music reading skills as they apply to piano-playing, including beginning piano literature and hymns.
4. Students will demonstrate proficiency in sight reading piano literature, relative in difficulty to the level of the class.
5. Students will perform a memorized piece during an in class recital using proper performing techniques and etiquette.

Course Content

This course will address the development of playing the piano at a basic level. It will include concepts such as note reading, sight reading, chords, chord inversions, scales (Major and minor), hand positions, playing positions, and basic musicianship. These concepts will be addressed during class and in weekly, outside of class, practice assignments. Other discussions will include practice techniques, performing techniques, keyboard theory, harmonization, transposition, and improvisation. Music for the course will be chosen from a variety of world cultures and nations. Both old and modern music from said cultures will be played. Discussions about the music as it relates to musical styles, time-periods, ethnicities, genders, and performing practices may be discussed. Students will be encouraged to help decide what pieces of literature and individual areas of focus will be studied for the solo performance portion of the course.