Rutgers Music

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Performance Requirements In Keyboard Instruments

I. Bachelor Of Music: Performance Concentration

Degree Requirements:

Accompanying:
All keyboard majors in performance must take a minimum of four semesters of Art of Accompanying (07:701:151-152 and two additional semesters from 701:251, 252, 351, 352, 451, 452) as part of their ensemble requirement. All majors may be asked to do one or two hours of accompanying per week in any semester.

Jury Requirements:
At the end of each of the first seven semesters of study, the student will prepare two or more pieces of different styles for a jury examination, which will last about 12-15 minutes. Each semester should be represented by at least two new pieces. The pieces, which may consist of movements from a larger work, will be chosen in consultation with the major teacher, and should be in accordance with the performance level guidelines set forth under End of Semester Keyboard Requirements.
If the jury is not passed, the student will be required to repeat the examination within the first two weeks of the following semester.

Grading:
Each semester's grade will be based upon artistic and technical progress, performance of assigned repertoire, and jury results. A minimum of 11 lessons per semester is required for grading.

Recital Procedures:

Repertoire Requirements:

The senior recital should consist of at least 60 minutes of music and should reflect proficiency in a variety of styles ranging from the Baroque through the late 20th century.


II. Bachelor Of Music: Music Education Concentration

Degree Requirements:

Accompanying:

All piano, organ, and harpsichord majors in the B.M. program may be asked to do one or two hours of studio accompanying per week.

Jury Requirements:

Semesters 1-4 Progress juries
A student must have completed Level I by the fourth semester in order to be allowed to enter the junior year as a keyboard major in the Music Education concentration. Subsequent juries must represent repertoire learned after Level I.

Semesters 5-6 Progress juries
A student should complete Level II by the end of the sixth semester. At the discretion of the teacher, the completion of Level II may be postponed for one (but not more than one) semester.

Semester 7 Progress jury

Grading:

Each semester's grade will be based upon artistic and technical progress, performance of assigned repertoire, and jury results. A minimum of 11 lessons per semester is required for grading.

Recital Requirements:

No recital is required. Students in Music Education are required to perform at least once in Music Assembly prior to student teaching.


III. Bachelor Of Arts Music Majors

The Keyboard Proficiency Examination must be passed by all B.A. music majors. Four semesters of Piano Class I and II (701:159-160 and 259-260) are offered for students who are beginning piano study, and the successful completion of these four semesters should prepare each student to pass the proficiency examination.

Students who have progressed past the level of Piano Class II may qualify for individual lessons. Qualification for lessons is determined by an audition before one or more keyboard faculty members.

B.A. students who take individual lessons normally enroll for 2 credits and receive one 45-minute lesson per week. Any student who is enrolled in private lessons must also be enrolled in a Music Department ensemble. B.A. students are required to perform a jury at the end of each semester of lessons.


End Of Semester Requirements In Keyboard Instruments

Bachelor Of Music: Piano Major

Freshman Year - Level I

During the freshman year, the student should have prepared at least 45 minutes of music, containing at least one selection from three of the four categories listed above. All tonal works must be memorized.

Sophomore Year - Level II

Junior Year - Level III

During the junior year, the student should have prepared at least 75 minutes of music, containing at least one selection from four of the five categories listed above. All works must be memorized. In addition, the faculty recommends the preparation and public presentation of a 30-minute recital.

Senior Year - Level IV


Bachelor Of Music: Harpsichord

Freshman Year - Level I

During the freshman year, the student should have prepared at least 45 minutes of music, containing at least one selection from three of the four categories listed above.

Sophomore Year - Level II

Junior Year - Level III

During the junior year, the student should have prepared at least 75 minutes of music, containing at least one selection from seven of the eight categories listed above.

Senior Year - Level IV

Bachelor Of Music: Organ

Basic piano instruction, including major and minor scales, arpeggios, literature at the level of J.S. Bach's Two and Three- Part Inventions, and appropriate technical work is prerequisite to beginning organ study. Below is an outline of the minimum requirements expected of students in the undergraduate program in organ.

It is understood that a progress jury is required at the end of every semester of matriculation. A senior recital is a degree requirement and a junior recital is strongly encouraged. A faculty hearing is required for each recital at least four weeks prior to performance.

Freshman Year-Level I
Study of basic organ technique from both historical and modern perspectives.
Sight reading simple trios and chorales.
Easier pieces from J.S. Bach's Orgelbüchlein, smaller preludes and fugues.
Shorter pieces by Dupré, Vierne and contemporary composers.

Sophomore Year-Level II
Continuation of freshman year materials.
More complex Bach preludes and fugues, Orgelbüchlein, and other chorale preludes, trios.
A shorter work from the North German School (Bruhns, Buxtehude, et al.)
A representative work from the French Classic School (Couperin, DeGrigny, et al.)
A shorter work of Rheinberger, Franck, Vierne, Messiaen, or contemporary composers.

Junior Year-Level III
Advanced organ technique.
Continuation of study of the organ works of J.S. Bach.
Works of Mendelssohn, Franck, Reger, Widor, Vierne, Dupré, et al.
A 20th or 21st century work.
In addition, the faculty recommends the preparation and public presentation of a 30-minute recital.

Senior Year-Level IV
Continuation of above, including reading a simple trio by Karg- Elert, Rheinberger, et al.
Preparation and public presentation of a Senior Recital of at least 60 minutes of music to include moderately advanced works from all style periods. The recital may include a work from either North German, French Classic, early Italian, Spanish, or English literature; a major work of J. S. Bach (prelude and fugue or large scale chorale-based work from Leipzig Chorales or Clavierübung III), a major work from a 19th century composer, and at least one piece from the late 20th/early 21st century.
The program should be balanced to reflect the student's ability to demonstrate musicality via lyrical movements, advanced technical ability, and mastery of registration and use of the organ appropriate to each style period presented.

CHURCH MUSIC
Church Music instruction is available to all keyboard students. Study of church music skills includes hymn playing, transposition of hymns at sight, and the art of improvisation.


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