Satisfactory completion of the examination is a graduation requirement for all Bachelor of Arts music majors and all Bachelor of Music students with the exception of keyboard majors in the Performance and Jazz Studies programs. A keyboard major who transfers from the B.M. to the B.A. program may be required to pass one or more sections of the Proficiency Examination at the discretion of the keyboard faculty.

Procedures

1. The Keyboard Proficiency Examination is given as the final exam in Piano Class II (701:260) each Spring semester. It is also given each semester, two to four weeks before final exams, for those students who are not enrolled in Piano Class.
2. It is recommended that all B.A. music majors and B.M. students take the complete Proficiency Examination no later than the spring semester of the second year. Those parts of the exam that are not passed at that time can be retaken in the following year.
3. Music Education majors must successfully complete the examination prior to Student Teaching.
4. It is expected (but not required) that a student will be enrolled in Piano Class or individual piano instruction in the Music Department during the semester in which the Proficiency Examination is taken.

Requirements

The requirements differ slightly from one degree program to another. The minimum requirements for all students are as follows:

1. All major scales, all harmonic and melodic minor scales starting on the white keys, and all major, minor, fully diminished 7th and dominant 7th arpeggios, through at least two octaves, hands together, at a moderate speed, with proper fingerings.
2. One simple homophonic piece comparable to a first movement from a sonatina by Clementi.
3. One simple polyphonic piece comparable to one of the pieces in the Anna Magdalena Notebook by J.S. Bach.
4. Sight-reading commensurate with level of advancement.

The specific additional requirements by degree program are as follows:

B.A. Majors

Minimum requirements only

B.M. in Performance (except piano majors)

Minimum requirements plus harmonization of a simple melody

B.M. in Music Education (except piano majors)

Minimum requirements plus:

1. Harmonization of a simple melody
2. A fluent performance of The Star-Spangled Banner in G, Ab, or Bb, with proper pedal technique

B.M. in Music Education (piano majors)

Minimum requirements Nos. 1 and 4 only

See Full Index
TOP of Music Student Handbook

[send updates to: preid@rci.rutgers.edu]