Class Piano is an excellent opportunity for music majors who are not specializing in piano performance, as well as for hobbyists eager to learn the piano for enjoyment. Many music degree programs require students to complete multiple levels of Class Piano, so it's advisable for students to consult their music adviser regarding the necessity of enrolling in this course.
In the introductory levels, students focus on essential keyboard skills, including proper hand positioning, music reading, transposition, and harmonization. They also practice basic piano techniques such as major and minor scales and fundamental chords. As students progress to higher levels, they enhance their technical abilities and explore a diverse range of musical styles from different historical periods. Throughout the semester, students have opportunities to showcase their chosen solos in class performances. The course is conducted in our piano lab equipped with Roland Digital pianos, and each session accommodates a maximum of 14 students to ensure personalized instruction.
Class Piano Sections
(Click on the course number for more information)
MUP130 Introduction to Class Piano
MUP131 Class Piano I
MUP132 Class Piano II
MUP231 Class Piano III
MUP232 Class Piano IV
Placement Testing Requirements
MUP 131
Scales
- Play all major scales at one octave hands together in a steady tempo (Quarter note = 120). Use proper fingering. For the test prepare: C, E, and Eb Majors.
- Play arpeggio hands separately, 2 octaves. For the test prepare: G, D, and Db Majors arpeggios.
- Play broken and blocked triad-inversions in C and D majors, hands separately. (Example in CM: going up c-e-g, e-g-c, g-c-e, c-e-g and back down)
- Primary chord progression (cadence) I - IVβΆπβ΄ β I - VβΆπβ΅ - I in all major keys. For the test prepare: A, B, and F Majors.
Solo piece
Prepare one solo of your choice.
Sight Reading
You will be asked to sight read a piece.
Harmonization
Harmonize a short song with chords in a root position, labeled by letter names.
Transposition
Transpose simple melodies to another key.
MUP 132
Scales
- Play all major and natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales (with the exception of c#, f#, b-flat, e-flat, and a-flat minors), two octaves hands together in a steady tempo (two eights = 80). Use proper fingering. For the test prepare: C, F, D, and Eb Majors and a, e, g, and b minors.
- Play arpeggio hands separately or together, 2 octaves. For the test prepare: F, D, Bb, Eb Majors and a, and g minors.
- Play broken and blocked triads inversions in C and D majors. (Example in CM: going up ce-g, e-g-c, g-c-e, c-e-g and back down) hands alone.
- Primary chord progressions (cadences) I - IVβΆπβ΄ β I - VβΆπβ΅ - I in all major keys and i - ivβΆπβ΄ β i - VβΆπβ΅ - i in minor keys a, e, d, g, c, f, b. For the test prepare: C, F, D, Bb, and Eb Majors and a, g, and b minors.
Solo piece
Prepare one solo of your choice.
Sight Reading
You will be asked to sight read a piece.
Harmonization
Harmonize a given song with mostly blocked primary chords (use inversions if necessary) labeled by either letter names or roman numerals.
Transposition
Transpose simple melodies with accompaniment into another key.
MUP 231
Scales
- Play all major and natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales at three octaves hands together in a steady tempo (two eights = 80). Use proper fingering. For the test prepare: C, F, D, Bb, Eb Majors and a, e, g, b, c minors.
- Play arpeggio hands together, 2 or 3 octaves. For the test prepare: F, D, Bb, Eb Majors and a, g, and f# minors. β’ Play broken and blocked triads inversions in G, A, B majors and c and f# minors. (Example in CM: going up c-e-g, e-g-c, g-c-e, c-e-g and back down) hands alone.
- Primary chord progressions (cadences) I - IVβΆπβ΄ β I - VβΆπβ΅ - I in all major and i - ivβΆπβ΄ β i - VβΆπβ΅ - i in all minor keys. Root position and first inversion. For the test prepare: G, F, A, Bb, Ab Majors and c, b, f# minors.
- Chromatic scale β two octaves, starting on any note, hands separately.
Solo piece
Prepare one solo of your choice.
Sight Reading
You will be asked to sight read a piece.
Harmonization
Harmonize a given song with primary and secondary chords (use inversions if necessary) labeled by either letter names, roman numerals, or without any labels (in this situation you will base your chords choice on melody notes). Use appropriate accompaniment patterns in the left hand that fit the character of the piece.
Transposition
Transpose a simple song with accompaniment into another key.
MUP 232
Scales
- Play all major and natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales at four octaves hands together in a steady tempo (two eights = 80). Use proper fingering. For the test prepare: C, F, D, Bb, Eb Majors and a, e, g, b, c minors.
- Play arpeggio hands together, 4 octaves. For the test prepare: F, E, Bb, Eb, Gb Majors and a, g, and c# minors.
- Play broken octave chords inversions hands together in E, Bb, and Eb majors and b, eb minors. (Example in CM: going up c-e-g-c, e-g-c-e, g-c-e-g, c-e-g-c and back down).
- Primary chord progressions (cadences) I - IVβΆπβ΄ β I - VβΆπβ΅ - I in all major and i - ivβΆπβ΄ β i - VβΆπβ΅ - i in all minor keys. Root position and both inversions. For the test prepare: E, F, B, Db, Majors and f and ab minors.
- Chromatic scale β two octaves, starting on any note, hands together.
Solo piece
Prepare one solo of your choice.
Sight Reading
You will be asked to sight read a piece.
Harmonization
Harmonize a given song with primary, secondary, and altered chords (such as secondary dominants or augmented 6th chords) labeled by either letter names, roman numerals, or without any labels (in this situation you base your chords on melody notes). Use appropriate accompaniment patterns in the left hand that fit the character of the piece.
Transposition
Transpose a simple piece into another key.