California State University, Stanislaus Piano Proficiency Exam Requirements and Information

(Revised Fall 2020) ______________________________________________________________________________________

I. KEY SIGNATURES and RELATIVE KEYS

Be able to name specific key signatures and relative minors/major keys for any key requested. Key signatures must demonstrate specific accidentals in their correct order. (For example, the key signature of E Major is f#, c#, g#, d#, and its relative minor is c# minor. It would be incorrect to name the key signature of E Major as “four sharps” as the answer does not demonstrate key-specific knowledge.)

II. TECHNIQUE – all components performed hands together A. SCALES – two octaves, ascending/descending

All Major Keys All Minor Keys - all forms (Natural, Harmonic, Melodic)

B. ARPEGGIOS – two octaves, ascending/descending in root position only All Major Keys All Minor Keys

C. TRIADS AND INVERSIONS - one octave blocked or arpeggiated, ascending/descending root position All Major Keys All Minor Keys

D. CADENCE PROGRESSIONS 1. Block Cadence Style

All Major Keys: I – IV64 – I – V6 – V65 – I All Minor Keys: i – iv64 – i – V6 – V65 – i

2. Bassline Cadence Style (also known as Closed Position Style) All Major Keys: I – vi – IV – ii6 – V64 – V7 - I All Minor Keys: i – VI – iv - ii°6 – V64 – V7 – i

See attached document for an example of technical exercises in C Major and c minor. Student must perform with correct fingering and notes, with smoothness of tempo (andante tempo from

beat to beat). If student cannot perform these correctly and efficiently, he/she will be requested to develop these skills through specific Class Piano courses.

Please be further advised that for scales, fingerings may differ for one or the other hand pertaining to certain black-key natural, harmonic, melodic scale forms (esp. f# minor, c# minor, and g# minor scale forms).

Please note that not all fingerings in technique books show correct standard pianistic fingerings for 1) arpeggios in root position (LH should use 5321321, not 5421421, in ascending two-octave

arpeggios for all white key root position arpeggios as well as to F# Major/G-flat Major arpeggios) 2) beginning fingers for use in some black-key scales (most pianists start and end on fingers 3 for

balance in some black key scales) Please be further advised that there are two different left hand (LH) fingering sets for the B-flat Major

arpeggios not often reflected in technique books: LH for two-octave ascending arpeggios is: LH fingering set #1: 3213213 (b-flat, d, f, b-flat, d, f, b-flat) LH fingering set #2: 3142142 (same notes as above)

III. SIGHTREADING

A basic piece from Elementary to Early Intermediate levels of piano repertoire will be given. See attached sample pieces as a reference.

IV. PREPARED PIECE

Student must perform from memory a piece from the Late Elementary to Advanced Intermediate level. Prior to taking the proficiency exam, a student must gain prior approval for an intended performance piece by emailing a PDF copy of the score to the Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at least one week in advance of the exam date (though several weeks prior is encouraged in case repertoire level is deemed insufficient). See attached sample repertoire. If student is able to perform his/her piece at an advanced class piano section, within three weeks in advance of intended exam date and with Class Piano instructor approval, that performance may be considered as the presentation of a memorized piece for the piano proficiency exam scheduled around that time.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

V. GENERAL INFORMATION AND RULES Music majors must pass the entire exam in order to graduate. The exam is not required of music

minors. Examinees will be evaluated on each component of testing and given a passing or non-passing grade for the entire exam. Results are emailed to the student, with passing results cc’d to the administrative support coordinator, the student’s advisor, the department chair. A follow-up official letter of exam passing results will be arranged by the administrative support coordinator, signed by the Coordinator of Keyboard Studies and placed in the student’s files.

The exam shall not exceed 15 minutes. If a student does not feel prepared to complete an exam within this time limit, he/she needs to refrain from signing up for an exam spot. A student must be prepared in advance in all areas of testing as Keyboard faculty cannot give assistance during the exam. Examinees need to fulfill each component of technical requirement within two attempts, playing with correct fingerings, correct notes, and steady tempo (andante to allegro from beat to beat). Only at the jury’s assessment and discretion, would a student be possibly called back for a re-test should there be only one area of slight weakness in the student’s testing.

Proficiency Exams are generally administered four times per year, on set dates at the beginning and end of Fall and Spring semesters (with start of Spring semester testing given on a need basis). Students will generally be notified of the specific dates and times two weeks in advance of the scheduled exam date for those semesters.

You must sign up for the exam in advance of taking it. Please follow instructions on the email announcing specific exam dates/times and procedures for sign-up (online methods or in-person sign-up sheets posted on the Keyboard Studies bulletin board outside room M-42).

If you cancel your exam appointment, you must do so at least 24 hours in advance by emailing the Coordinator of Keyboard Studies. If you do not cancel your appointment appropriately, you will receive a non-pass for the exam.

Students are requested to enroll in Class Piano courses until they have successfully passed the entire Piano Proficiency Exam. _________________________________________________________________________________

Addendum: helpful technique books (though not all books list all technical exercises required in the exam. Some books have slight fingering variations not subscribed to by trained pianists – see comments in technique section): The FJH Classic Scale Book (by Victoria McArthur, Edwin McLean) The Complete Book of Scales, Cadences, and Arpeggios in All Keys (by John Brimhall, Raquel Abril)

EXAMPLE TECHNIQUE C Major C Minor

KEY SIGNATURES

SAMPLE SIGHT READING

Electronic Game Golden Gate Bridge

Tiger Chase Spring Time

SAMPLE REPERTOIRE

The Clown Minuet in d Minor

Musette in D Polonaise in g Minor Hungarian Folk Song

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