MVK 1111 - Class Piano

College of Fine Arts and Humanities

Credit(s): 1
Contact Hours: 32
Effective Term Fall 2007 (385)

Course Description

This course is for beginning piano students meeting in groups of six or more. Emphasis is placed on music reading and elementary techniques.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will develop an understanding of basic music theory by:
    1. recognizing notation on the grand staff.
    2. identifying meter.
    3. identifying key signatures.
    4. determining proper hand positions for five finger patterns and for pieces based on five finger patterns.
    5. identifying expressive markings.
    6. identifying tonic and dominant triads.
    7. determining qualities of intervals and triads.
    8. determining dominant seventh chords in every key.
    9. demonstrating the ability to read elementary music.
  2. The student will develop an understanding of basic piano technique and keyboard skills by:
    1. performing the major scales either in tetrachords, without thumbs, using both hands, or with one hand using thumb under.
    2. performing the five finger patterns of all major and minor keys.
    3. performing the major and minor triads in all keys in root position.
    4. performing triad arpeggios in all major and minor keys using hand over hand.
    5. performing the I-V7-I chords in the major keys.
    6. performing blocked and broken octaves.
    7. performing five finger exercises similar to those in Hanon.
    8. demonstrating proper hand position, wrist motion, and relaxation.
    9. demonstrating proper posture.
    10. demonstrating the ability to lift the wrist at the end of phrases.
    11. demonstrating the ability to perform with independence of the hands and fingers, with one hand playing legato and the other hand staccato, or one hand playing a legato melody while the other hand changes chords, and with one hand playing loud and the other hand playing softly.
    12. demonstrating ethe ability to perform keyboard skills.
  3. The student will develop an understanding of piano solo and ensemble performance by:
    1. performing a composition with rhythmic accuracy and continuity.
    2. identifying meter.
    3. identifying tempo markings.
    4. identifying rhythmic patterns.
    5. maintaining an established tempo.
    6. identifying key signature.
    7. locating proper hand position for a given composition.
    8. participating in simple duets or small ensemble literature.
    9. distinguishing shifting metric and tempo variables.
    10. observing proper timing of attacks and releases.
    11. demonstrating the ability to perform elementary keyboard literature.
  4. The student will develop an understanding of transposition and harmonization by:
    1. transposing a given melody.
    2. performing a harmonization of a simple melody using primary chords.
    3. observing intervallic consistency between original melody and its transposition.
    4. observing appropriate accidentals in the new key.
    5. observing rhythmic consistency.
    6. improvising a varied accompaniment pattern using either waltz bass, broken chords, alberti bass, etc.
    7. demonstrating the ability to transpose and harmonize.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum 70% level of performance, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

Revised 8/84 Reviewed C&I 10/23/90 DBT 5/28/92 Effective 5/29/92 3 YR C&I Review 8/95 C & I 11/25/97; DBT 12/15/97 Effective Session 19981 Reformatted mr 5-30-02 3 Year Review 2001. Effective 20071(0385). 3-Year Review 2010: Acceptable As Is.
C&I Approval: 09/11/2007, BOT Approval: 10/16/2007, Effective Term: Fall 2007 (385)

Related Programs

  1. Music (MUSIC-TR) (670) (Active)
  2. Music Education (MUSICED-TR) (670) (Active)