Class Piano MUSC 1031 – Class Piano I and IIDr. Stephen Weber, Instructor

574-1295facwebers@usao.edu

Davis 234

Required Materials

The required textbook for the course is Group Piano for Adults, Volume I, published by Alfred. The text is available in the USAO bookstore.

Objectives

Class Piano presents basic keyboard skills for the students. By the end of the course the student will be able to perform keyboard harmonization, transposition, repertoire, and technical skills. In addition, class piano students will be able to speak confidently about basic music concepts and relate these to a variety of musical genres and media. Finally, students will come to understand music as a means of self-expression, creativity and communication.

Practicing

You should plan to practice a minimum of 30 minutes each day. You are expected to write down assignments and have them prepared by the specified deadlines. You may practice in the Davis Hall practice rooms or the Keyboard Lab, which will have open hours posted.

Grading

Grades will be taken on material assigned for specific dates (roughly once each week). There is no cumulative mid-term or final. The trimester grade will be based on quiz scores. Missed quizzes and material may not be made up after the designated due date unless you are ill or have a family emergency and call prior to the class meeting time.

Attendance

Lab situations such as class piano rely heavily on hands-on skills development. Your attendance and participation is expected. The following attendance policy (from the Music Department Policy Handbook) will be enforced:

4 absences 1 letter grade drop6 absences 2 letter grade drop8 absences 3 letter grade drop

Schedule

The course of study for the class follows sequentially in the required textbook. Additional materials will be provided in the form of handouts. Class Piano I will complete the first half of the textbook. Class Piano II will complete the second half of the book.

Classroom Policies

The use of cell phones in class is prohibited. Food and beverages are not allowed in the class piano lab.

Outcomes

By the end of the each course of study the students will meet the following competencies:

Class Piano I

Keyboard Technique – all major and minor pentachords, one octave major scales in keys up to three sharps and flats, one octave arpeggios in keys up to three sharps and flatsKeyboard Harmony – I-V-I progression in keys up to three sharps and flats, harmonize a given melody to chord roots, play all major root position chordsTransposition – transpose basic melodies to selected keysRepertoire – memorized repertoire at the level of the first half of the textbookImprovisation – improvise basic question phrases and answer phrasesSight-reading – sight read pieces on the level of the first half of the textbook

Class Piano II

Keyboard Technique – two octave scales in keys up to three sharps and flats, two octave arpeggios in all major keys up to three sharps and flatsKeyboard Harmony – I-IV-V-I progression in keys up to three sharps and flats, harmonize a given melody to the I, IV and I chords, play all major chords with inversionsTransposition – transpose basic pieces to selected keysRepertoire – memorized repertoire at the level of the second half of the textbookImprovisation – improvise basic melodies over the I, IV and V chordsSight-reading – sight read pieces on the level of the second half of the textbook

This class completes competency 17 of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation.