Keyboard proficiency is an important component of overall musicianship. Upon entering Science & Arts, students are placed in class piano or applied studio instruction on piano based on a combination of demonstrated playing skills and musical knowledge. Students enrolled in class piano must complete the class piano sequence from the point of placement (see sequenced courses).

All music majors must pass a piano proficiency examination. Proficiency requirements include repertoire, harmonization, transposition, keyboard harmony, technique, accompanying, improvisation, and sight-reading.  The keyboard harmony, technique, harmonization, and transposition portions of the exam will be recorded during class or studio lesson time and distributed to faculty for evaluation. The repertoire, accompanying, sight-reading, and improvisation will be evaluated before a faculty panel during jury or progress and skills exam time. Students in class piano will take the exam as a final component of the fourth semester of the class piano sequence. Students in applied instruction will take the examination when their applied studio instructor deems that they have been adequately prepared for the exam. Students who do not pass the proficiency will be required to enroll in class piano or applied studio instruction in piano until the proficiency is passed.  The semester the student completes their proficiency they will be required to sign up for an additional jury or progress and skills exam time and they will be required to fill out and e-mail a piano proficiency form to the coordinator one week prior to their piano proficiency.

Students will receive a letter from the coordinator detailing the results of their piano proficiency exam within two weeks of completion of the exam. A copy of this letter will be placed in the student’s permanent file as well as given to the student’s adviser for placement in the advising file.