University of Michigan-Flint

Piano Proficiency Examination Instructions

All music education students must pass the piano proficiency examination prior to student teaching. The examination is given inDec, April, and August each year, on dates determined and announced well in advance. The examination will be offered in two 15-minute segments, as described on the examination and below. Beginning in Fall 2016, students enrolled in MUS 131 will take Segment 1 (December), and students enrolled in MUS 132 will take Segment 2 (April). The August test date will be for retakes if you fail either section and/or for piano majors (see below). Piano majors need only take the segment specifically designed for them (only sign up for one 15-minute slot).

Piano Proficiency Segment 1:

Section I: 4 scales—two Major and two minor, as described.

Section II: chord progressions and harmonization—as described, please read the description

carefully and prepare accordingly.

Section III: prepare in advance and play (using music if you wish) a piano solo selected from the

approved list.

Piano Proficiency Segment 2:

Section I: prepare in advance and play (with music, if you wish) a chorale excerpt

from the approved list.

Section II: prepare in advance and play (with music, if you wish) an accompaniment

from the approved list. You must arrange for a soloist to be present.

Section III: play a short excerpt of any two parts from a provided choral score. The 10 octavos

from which these excerpts will be selected are available for students to practice.

Piano Proficiency, Piano Majors:

Section I: chord progressions and harmonization—as described, please read the description

carefully and prepare accordingly.

Section II: play a short excerpt of any two parts of a provided choral score. The 10 octavos

from which these excerpts will be selected are available for students to practice.

Section III: prepare in advance and play (with music, if you wish) an accompaniment from

the approved list. You must arrange for a soloist to be present.

Instructions for students not enrolled in class piano sequence (MUS 129, 130, 131, 132) or who entered prior to Fall 2013:

Piano Majors

1.  Piano majors who entered prior to Fall 2013 are not required to take the proficiency.

2.  Piano majors who entered in Fall 2013 or later may sign up (for one 15-minute interval) at their convenience. Remember you must pass the piano proficiency by the April test date if you plan to student teach in Fall, and by the August test date if you wish to student teach in Winter.

Students who Entered the Program Prior to Fall 2013

1.  Students who entered the program prior to Fall 2013 may choose to take either the entire older piano proficiency examination OR this one. If you choose to take the older proficiency, please sign up for two slots and indicate “older proficiency” on the sign up sheet.

2.  If you wish to take the new proficiency, you may take both segments on the same test day (sign up for two slots) or take one at a time. IMPORTANT:

·  You must first pass segment 1 to be allowed to take segment 2 (even if you sign up to take both on the same day).

·  Both segments must be passed within three consecutive testing intervals.

·  For any segment, you are allowed only two attempts.

·  If you wish to student teach in Winter semester, you must pass both segments by the prior August testing date. For Fall semester, you must pass both segments by the prior April testing date.

Students who opt out of MUS 129,130, 131, 132

You may take both segments on the same test day (sign up for two slots) or take one at a time. IMPORTANT:

·  You must first pass segment 1 to be allowed to take segment 2 (even if you sign up to take both on the same day).

·  Both segments must be passed within three consecutive testing intervals.

·  For any segment, you are allowed only two attempts.

·  If you wish to student teach in Winter semester, you must pass both segments by the prior August testing date. For Fall semester, you must pass both segments by the prior April testing date.

Segment 2, Section III: Repertoire List

All taken from Vol. 17, Music for Millions: Easy Classics to Moderns, Edited by Denes Agay. Must be played artistically and at appropriate tempo.

Kabalevsky, Dimitri

·  In the Country, p. 147

·  Scherzo, p. 146

·  Toccatina, p. 140

Kohler, Louis

·  Chromatic Polka, p. 102

Kullak, Theodor

·  Cradle Song, p. 86

Miakovsky, Nicolas

·  Fugue in Classic Style, p. 126

Prokofieff, Serge

·  Tarantella, p. 132

Schubert, Franz

·  Four Landlers, p. 77 (number 4, or any other 2)

·  Waltz in b minor, p. 70

Schumann, Robert

·  The Wild Horseman, p. 89

Tchaikovsky, Peter

·  Reverie, p. 110

Villa Lobos, Heitor

·  Circle Dance, p. 150