ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
KEYBOARD II
COURSE NAME: MUS 135COURSE DESCRIPTION: / Group instruction in piano. Studies include transposition, harmonization and beginning-level repertoire. Must receive a grade of at least “C” to continue in theory sequence.
PREREQUISITE: / MUS 134
CREDIT HOURS: 1
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. David Bowman or Dr. Joel Jones
PHONE: (334) 229-4341
OFFICE: Tullibody Music Building 305
OFFICE HOURS: as posted or by appointment
ATTENDANCE POLICY: See University Bulletin and General Requirements, #4
These courses fulfill the following institutional, state, and national standards:
Alabama State University Conceptual Framework 1.1 and 1.6
Alabama State Department of Education Rules for Music Knowledge and Ability Standards:
290-3-3.32 (1)(b)2.
INTASC Standards 1, 4, and 7
NASM Standards VIII. B.1.e.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Prerequisite: MUS 134.
2. Students with considerable piano background ONLY can be exempt from the course by passing a
proficiency exam given by the instructor. To be exempt, ALL PORTIONS OF THE PROFICIENCY EXAM MUST BE PASSED AT ONE TIME TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE COURSE. This can be taken during the week prior to the beginning of the semester or during the first two weeks of the course.
Any student who has previously failed the course may not take the proficiency exam as a course
exemption but must retake the course.
3. Attend all class sessions; be on time. Class begins on the hour. Students who are late will have the
number of minutes late deducted from their allowable unexcused absences. No work tested during the time a student is late will be made up without an excuse.
4. Be prepared for each class session. A minimum two hours practice outside class is expected per
session. The instructor reserves the right to grade without advance notice any assignment. This
will be used if the class as a whole is not preparing assignments. No student will be graded unless the entire class is graded for that assignment.
5. An officially approved absence only, gives the student the opportunity to make up the work missed.
If you are absent, contact another student or the instructor prior to the next session to get the assignment. You will be responsible for being prepared for the next class (including any grading) even if you are absent before. Not knowing the assignment will not excuse you from being graded on it when you return to class.
6. Any work that is failed (other than because of unexcused absences) can be retaken within one
week of the testing. The student can make a maximum of only 70% (C) on a retake. It is the student’s responsibility to see the instructor for a retake within the two-week period. Any work not made up within this time period cannot be retaken. If a required proficiency objective is failed, the student can retry to pass the proficiency requirement by the end of the semester on that portion failed. This will not change the grade earned at the time of testing.
7. Unexcused absences from the course exceeding one and a half times the number of credit hours
assigned to the course will be assigned a grade of “F”. You have two unexcused absences. See University Attendance Policy.
8. Nine of the thirteen objectives make up the proficiency exam (Objectives: A, B, C, D, G, I, J. L, M).
passing of the objective at the time of testing within the semester constitutes passing of that portion
of the proficiency exam. Students will have a record of completion of all proficiency requirements
placed in their student records filed in the music office. A student who has passed MUS 135 but not completed all proficiency requirements will be given an incomplete until all portions are passed. The office records will indicate those portion that remain to be passed to fulfill completion of both 135 and passing of the proficiency.
9. Each student must bring to class his/her own textbook and a pencil and are to write down all
assignments.
OBJECTIVES
A. (PROF. REQ.) SCALES. Play the white key majors two octaves hands together; white key
harmonic minors one octave hands together; all black key major scales two octaves hands
separately.
B. HARMONIC PROGRESSIONS. (PROF. REQ.)
Part 1: Play the I, IV6/4, V6/5, I chord progression hands separately in the keys of B, Bb, Eb,
and Ab. [new keys for 135]
Part 2: (PROF. REQ.) Play the I-IV6/4-I-V6 and I-IV6/4-I-V6/5-I harmonic progressions in
right hand with the left hand playing the root of each chord in all white key major and
minors and Bb, Eb, and Ab majors. [includes keys learned in 134 as review]
C. REPERTOIRE. (PROF. REQ.) Appropriate level selections by the instructor will be assigned
at regular intervals. More advanced students may be assigned more challenging repertoire to study. At least one duet will be assigned to be performed with another student.
D. (PROG. REQ.) HARMONIZATION. Harmonize and play melodies with I, IV, V7 chords in
same keys as harmonic progressions. Left hand will expand from block chord
accompaniments to common accompaniment patterns. Student will learn to create a two-hand accompaniment.
E. CHORD INVERSIONS. Play with correct fingering root position, first and second inversions,
hands separately, ascending and descending, in all major and minor keys.
F. SEVENTH CHORDS. Play a major seventh, minor seventh, half-diminished, and fully diminished
seventh chord from any given key as root.
G. (PROF. REQ.) LEAD SHEET. Play an assigned piece with melody and chord symbols, which
will include seventh chords.
H. IMPROVISATION. From a given chord progression, be able to improvise a melody and chord
accompaniment.
I. (PROF. REQ.) PATRIOTIC. Student will memorize and perform without stops at an acceptable
singing tempo two patriotic pieces: My Country Tis of Thee and either The Star Spangled Banner or Lift Every Voice and Sing.
J. (PROF. REQ.) TRANSPOSTION. Transpose short melodies and/or pieces into other keys.
K. TECHNIC EXERCISES. From assigned exercises in each unit, demonstrate the ability to
coordinate the hands at an assigned tempo.
L. (PROF. REQ.) SIGHTREADING. Play at sight simple, short exercises, keeping the eyes on the
page and keeping the beat steady.
M. (PROF. REQ.) OPEN SCORE READING. While maintaining a slow, steady tempo, play two
two adjacent parts and two non-adjacent parts.
EVALUATION AND MINIMUM STANDARDS
A. Objective A (scales) will be graded as announced. To pass each scale, the student must play the
the correct notes and fingering at the assigned tempo. Each scale will count for 10 points (7
points to pass; 8-10 according to fluency and corrections or errors during playing.) To pass the
objective, the student must pass 14 of the 19 scales. Total points: 190.
B. Objective B (harmonic progressions) will be graded as announced. Part I. will be 10 points each of
four progressions. To pass, the student must play 3 of the 4 correctly. 40 points.
C. Objective C (repertoire) will include several pieces assigned throughout the semester. Each piece
will count 40 points and will be graded on musicality, rhythm, notes, fingering, tempo. Criteria
for achieving 36-40: accuracy of notes and rhythm, up to tempo, played musically, NOT MEMORIZED; 32-35: 2-4 errors, an occasional hesitation, not quite up to tempo or not played musically; 28-31: a number of errors and hesitations but able to play the piece through; 24-27: many errors and stops but some indication of minimum preparation. Students must accumulate a minimum of 24 points in order to pass the piece. No points will be awarded for non-passing work. At least 70% of the assigned pieces must be passed to pass the objective.
D. Objective D (harmonization) will be evaluated by playing assigned melodies which the student
harmonizes with the left hand. Accompaniment patterns will be assigned appropriate to the style.
To pass the objective, the student must be able to play the melodies with correct chords. To achieve a 90%, the correct pattern must be used in the accompaniment and correct fingering, notes and rhythm. To achieve 80% per melody, the student must do the 90% requirements but is allowed several mistakes. Each melody will count 15 points with the total depending on the number assigned.
E. Objective E (chord inversions) will be evaluated on one test. Each key tested will count 10 points.
To pass the objective, the correct notes and fingering must be played in 70% of the keys.
F. Objective F (seventh chords) will be evaluated by asking the student to play and spell aloud at least
two each of the five seventh chords asked for. To pass the objective, 7 of the 10 must be correct. Each chord will count 5 points for a total of 50 points.
G. Objective G (lead sheet) will be evaluated with at least one song, total 50 points. Criteria includes
note/rhythm accuracy, continuity of beat, musicianship. To pass the objective the student must achieve a minimum of 35 points. If time permits, more examples will be included for additional experience.
H. Objective H (improvisation) will be evaluated at least one time during the semester. Each example
will count 25 points. Students must play the correct harmony, improvise in the style asked for and maintain a steady beat. To pass the objective, students must accumulate 70% of the points.
I. Objective I (patriotic) will be performed in class. Grading of possible 50 points is based on note/rhythm accuracy, continuity of beat, musicianship, and tempo. To pass the objective the student must achieve a minimum of 35 points.
J. Objective J (transposition) will be tested at least twice. Each example will be transposed at sight,
with a minimum amount of class time to prepare. Each example will count 20 points. Students must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of transposition to play the correct notes in a reasonable tempo. To pass the objective the student must accumulate 70% of the points.
K. Objective K (technic exercises) will be graded at various times throughout the semester. Each
Exercise will be assigned in advance and will be worth 20 points on the test. To pass the objective must achieve 70% of the total points.
L. Objective L (sightreading) will be graded at least twice during the semester, unannounced. Each
exercise graded will be worth 30 points. To pass the objective the student must achieve 70% on
each exercise.
M. Objective M (open score reading) will be assigned in advance for preparation outside of class. This
will be graded at least twice. Each example will count 25 points. The student must demonstrate the ability to play the correct notes in a steady tempo of both two adjacent and two non-adjacent parts. One of the examples will include a part which must be transposed at sight. To pass the objective the student must accumulate 70% of the total points.
GRADING
PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT: In order to pass the course and the department’s piano proficiency requirement, nine of the thirteen (those labeled PROF. REQ.) objectives must be passed.
NOTE: Work not passed can be retaken within one week with the understanding that the grade on each evaluation retaken can be no higher than 70% of the possible points for that assignment.
In addition to the above: For a grade of A, the students must pass all of the objectives and achieve 90%
of the possible course points.
For a grade of B, the student must pass 11 of the objectives and achieve at least 80% of the possible
course points.
For a grade of C, the student must pass the 9 objectives and achieve at least 70% of the possible course
points.
For a grade of D, the student must pass achieve 60% of the possible course points and pass 8 of the
objectives.
Failure to meet any of the D grade criteria will result in a grade of F.
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MUS 135