Piano Proficiency Exam for Composition Majors

Required for all new incoming master’s students in composition, and optional for undergraduates (to be determined during advising). 

To test out of Fall, Winter, and Spring sequences, students need to demonstrate the following proficiencies:

1. Major scales: hands together in two octaves, systematic fingerings, all keys
2. Minor scales (harmonic & melodic): hands together in two octaves, systematic fingerings, all keys
3. Arpeggios: hands together in three octaves, systematic fingerings, all major and minor keys
4. Sight-reading: ability to sight-read excerpts comparable to the level of Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook or Bartok’s "For Children" Book 1, with 2 minutes of preparation
5. Repertoire (Baroque): a Baroque repertoire at early advance level or comparable.
   1. Examples: JS Bach’s Two-Part Inventions or a dance movement of JS Bach’s French Suites
6. Repertoire (Classical): a first movement of a Classical sonatina at early advance level or comparable. 
   1. Examples: Clementi’s Sonatinas, Op. 36 Nos. 2 or 4, Kuhlau’s Sonatinas Op. 20 No. 1 or Op. 55 No. 3
7. Repertoire (Romantic or Contemporary): a Romantic or contemporary character piece at early advance level or comparable.
   1. Examples: Schumann's Kinderszenen, Grieg's Lyric Pieces, Bartok's Mikrokosmos Volume 5, or A. Tcherepnin's Bagatelles Op. 5

If the exam is not passed, students must enroll in three consecutive terms of MUP 163: Functional Piano for Composers

Questions?
Contact Michelle Sulaiman, Instructor of Keyboard Skills & Functional Piano at msulaim5@uoregon.edu.