Piano Requirements

Piano Level Requirements by Degree for Piano Major/Piano Concentration

All Music Majors are personally responsible for familiarizing themselves with the piano requirements for their particular degrees and majors as outlined below and for making certain that they are met before graduation.

Piano Majors

Bachelor of Music students whose principal instrument is piano should adhere to the guidelines below in the completion of their private lesson study. All students must attain the level prescribed by their degree program (see Piano Requirements by Degree, Piano Technique Syllabus, Piano Literature Syllabus).

1. All Bachelor of Music, Music Education majors and Bachelor of Arts music majors whose principal instrument is piano must take a jury examination until the level and credit hour requirements are met. Students pursuing the Bachelor of Music in Composition or Bachelor of Music in Music History-Literature, whose principal instrument is piano, will be required to attain Level 7a status by the time they have completed their required five semesters of applied piano lessons.
2. After the level has been met, juries taken only to meet credit hour requirements need not include technique.
3. After credit hour requirements have been met, juries taken only to meet technique requirements need not include repertoire pieces.
4. Students studying for two credit hours are required to play two contrasting pieces of solo literature by memory and technique appropriate to their level in each jury. One ten-minute time unit should be reserved.
5. Students studying for three credit hours are required to play three contrasting pieces by memory and technique appropriate to their level in each jury. One twenty-minute time unit should be reserved.
6. Students studying for four credit hours are required to play four contrasting pieces by memory and technique appropriate to their level in each jury. One twenty-minute time unit should be reserved.
7. All students whose primary instrument is piano will be required to pass a sight reading proficiency test, which will ordinarily be taken at the end of the fourth semester of piano studies  They will be tested at level of difficulty two levels below the repertoire and technique level of that jury.  All piano students are encouraged to make sight reading a regular part of their practice.
8. During their jury at the end of the junior year, Bachelor of Music Education majors whose principal instrument is piano must demonstrate competency in sight reading (at least level 5), harmonizing a melody at sight, accompanying a soloist (prepared in advance), playing a familiar piece by ear, and one of the following patriotic songs (scores may be used): America the Beautiful, The Star Spangled Banner, or My Country 'Tis of Thee.
9. Over succeeding semesters, juries should include contrasting pieces from various historical periods.
10. The faculty jury reserves the right to hear only a portion of a prepared piece.
11. The jury grade will count as 50% of the semester grade; the other 50% will be given by the teacher for the overall semester's work. A recital is not a substitute for the jury exam since it is not graded.
12. Students may opt to have the grade for a required piano recital take the place of the grade for playing repertoire in a jury exam in the same semester. Students must notify the Chair of the piano department before the recital to ensure that it will be graded. Required "technique" will be heard and graded by the jury as usual.
13. Non-validation juries (optional for any student taking piano) must include two contrasting pieces (one memorized) and technique of appropriate level. One ten-minute time unit should be reserved.

Piano Levels for Piano Majors / Piano Concentration

Piano Students Who Are Not Piano Majors

This section deals with guidelines for students who are not majoring in piano as their principal instrument. All students must attain the level prescribed by their degree program (see Graduation Competency Levels, Piano Technique Syllabus, Piano Literature Syllabus).  This level should be reached as early in the four years of study as possible.

1. Music majors who are not piano majors must meet their level of piano through a jury validation as specified in their degree requirements.
2. If no previous juries have been taken, the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts music majors jury validation must include two contrasting pieces (one memorized) and technique appropriate to their level. If a jury has been taken in a previous semester, the validation jury need include only one memorized piece and technique of appropriate level. One ten-minute time unit should be reserved.
3. The validation jury for Bachelor of Music Education majors must include one memorized piece and technique of appropriate level. The validation jury also includes sightreading (two levels less advanced), harmonizing a melody at sight, accompanying a soloist (prepared in advance), playing a familiar piece by ear, and one of the following patriotic songs (scores may be used): America the Beautiful, The Star Spangled Banner, or My Country 'Tis of Thee.
4. Non-validation juries (optional for any student taking piano, but required for any music major beginning with level 4a) must include two contrasting pieces (one memorized) and technique of appropriate level. One ten-minute time unit should be reserved.
5. Over succeeding semesters, juries should include contrasting pieces from the various historical periods.
6. Students may schedule a validation jury without previous study at Wheaton College. The appropriate requirements must be met. The jury pieces must be approved by the Chair of the Keyboard area.
7. Students studying piano who have achieved their levels and required credit hours need not take further jury exams.
8. Students studying piano who have achieved their levels and required hours (as in elected minor) need not take further jury exams.

 Piano Proficiency for Non-Piano Majors

Music Minor with Piano as Principal Instrument

Entry level must be 2b or higher; and completion level should be Level 4b or higher. For students entering at a higher level, it is expected that they will complete two higher levels during their two semesters of continuous study (for example, a student who tests at 5a on entry would then go on to complete 5b and 6a in three semesters). One validation jury is required at the end of the third semester.

Piano Technique Syllabus

This syllabus provides the standards for all piano students based on the stipulations of their degree program. Refer to specifics. All fingerings are to be memorized except where noted. Achievement of "B" levels signify that all requirements of competency at that level have been met. "A" levels mean that work is in progress on that level, that some items may have been attained, but not all. **** Level 10 students will be given the option of doing either diatonic major and minor scales in double sixths OR chromatic major and minor sixths.

Syllabus Key

b/b= blocked and broken

Level 9 and armp; Level 10 Performance Majors must meet upper metronome levels.

Level 11 is for optional use by those who complete Level 10 prior to their senior year.

+ No memory requirement

* Small hands may substitute another exercise at teacher's discretion

** BM Performance degree only

*** Students with small hands will have the option of playing four-note blocked dominant seventh chords.

 Piano Literature Syllabus

The Piano Literature Syllabus provides all piano students guidelines for the selection of music at each level of study. Students enrolled in piano lessons should use this and the Piano Technique Syllabus as a planning resource in consultation with their assigned piano teacher.

Piano Literature Level 1

Beginners books such as:

• Bastian, James and Jane S. - Beginning Piano for Adults (General Words and Music Co.)
• Clark, Frances - The Music Tree (Summy-Birchard Co.)
• Pace, Robert - Music for the Piano (Lee Roberts Publications)
• Pyle, Hershal - The University Piano Series (Campus Publ., Ann Arbor, MI)
• Suzuki Piano School (Summy-Birchard), 6 volumes
• Bartok, Bela - First Term at the Piano, Mikrokosmos, Vol. 1
• Shostakovich, Dmitri - 6 Children's Pieces
• Stecher, Horowitz, Gordon, Kern, and Lancaster - Keyboard Strategies (G. Schirmer)

Piano Literature Level 2

Burgmuller, N. - 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100

• Czerny-Germer - Studies, Vol. 1, Part 1
• The CMP Piano Library - The Etude, Book 1 (Consolidated Music Publishers)
• Anna Magdalena Bach Book (easier pieces)
• First Bach Book (Kalmus)
• Schumann, Robert - Album for the Young, Op. 68 (easier pieces e.g. The Happy Farmer, Melody, Soldier's March, Bagatelle)
• Frances Clark Library - Piano Technic, Bk 1; Piano Literature of the 17th, 18th 19th Centuries, Bks. 1 and 2; Contemporary Piano Literature, Bk.1 (Summy-Birchard Co.)
• Bartok, Bela - Mikrokosmos, Vol. 2
• Kabalevsky, Dmitri - 24 Little Pieces, Op. 39
• Music for Millions Series - Easy Classics to Modern, Vol. 17 (Consolidated)

Piano Literature Level 3

• Heller, Stephen - Studies, Op. 125
• Czerny-Germer - Studies, Vol. 1, Part 2
• The CMP Piano Library - The Etude, Book 2 (Consolidated Music Publisher)
• Anna Magdalena Bach Book
• First Bach Book (Kalmus)
• Handel, G. F. - A First Book (Kalmus)
• Master Series for the Young (G. Schirmer)
• Beethoven, Ludwig van - Sonatinas in F Major and G Major
• Clementi, Muzio - Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36, No. 6
• Sonatina Album, Vol. 1 (Kalmus)
• Sonatina Album (G. Schirmer)
• Schumann, Robert - Album for the Young, Op. 68 (First Loss, Wild Horsemen, Etc.)
• Tschaikowsky, Dmitri - 10 Children's Pieces, Op. 27
• Persichetti, Vincent - Little Piano Book, (Elkan-Vogel)
• Tansman, Alexandre - Pour les Enfants, Volumes 1 and 2 (E. C. Schirmer)
• Frances Clark Library - Piano Technic, Vol. 2; Piano Lit of the 17th, 18th 19th Cent, Bk. 3; Contemp Piano Lit, Bk.3

Piano Literature Level 4

• Heller, Stephen - Etudes, Op. 45 and Op. 46
• Bach, J.S. - Short Preludes and Fugues (easier ones); Chorales
• Fischer, J.K.F. - Ariadne Musica (Sam Fox Co.)
• Beethoven, Ludwig van - Minuets, 6 Variations on a Swiss Song
• Clementi, Muzio - Sonatinas (such as Op. 36 Nos. 3 and 4)
• Kahlau, F. - Sonatinas (such as Op. 55, No. 1)
• Bartok, Bela - Ten Easy Piano Pieces (Schott)
• Prokofieff, Serge - For Children, Op. 65
• Frances Clark Library - Piano Literature of the 17th, 18th, and 19th Centuries, Book 4; Contemp Piano Lit, Book 3
• American Composers of Today (23 Piano Pieces, Levels 4- 6) (E.B. Marks)
• Masters of our Day (C. Fischer)
• Hymns; folk and patriotic songs; accompaniments

Suggested Materials for Preparation of the BME Proficiency Exam, Level 4

Sight Reading

• Hannah Smith - Progressive Sight Reading Exercises (Schroeder and Gunther)
• Bartok - Mikrokosmos, Book I and parts of Book II (Boosey and Hawkes)
• Frances Clark - Themes from Masterworks, Books 2-3
• Piano Literature, Books 2-3
• Jazz and Blues, Books 2-3
• Denes Agay, ed. - Easy Classics to Moderns, Vols. 17 and 27
• William Pelz - Basic Keyboard Skills (Allyn and Bacon). Appendix gives concise explanation of how.

Harmonizing a Melody

• Frackenpohl - Harmonization at the Piano (Brown) Chapters 1-4
• Leon Dallin - Heritage Songster (Brown)
• Dallin only gives folk tunes to be harmonized while Frackenpohl gives an explanation of how to do it.
• Exam will use an 8 measure phrase in major or minor. Students -expect to use all primary chords in harmonization.

Playing a Familiar Piece by Ear

• Frackenpohl contains lists of pieces to play by ear at end of chapter. Many can be found in Heritage Songster.

Accompanying

• Frackenpohl - Chapter 15
• Norman Lloyd - Fireside Book of Favorite American Songs
• Fireside Book of Favorite Folk Songs
• Fireside Book of Favorite Love Songs (Simon & Schuster)

Piano Literature Level 5

Beginning level for AB Piano Majors

• Czerny, Carl - The School of Velocity, Op. 299
• Bach, J.S. - Two-part Inventions, Short Preludes and Fugues (more advanced)
• Haydn, Joseph - Sonatas (such as C Major, Vienna Urtext 48/Hoboken 35)
• Mozart, W.A. - Viennese Sonatinas (Levels 5-6), Sonatas (such as C Major, K 545), Fantasia in D minor
• Beethoven, Ludwig van - Sonatas (G minor, Op. 49 No. 1 etc.), 6 Variations on "Nel cor piu."
• Clementi, Muzio - Sonatinas (such as D Major, Op. 36 No. 6)
• Chopin, Frederic - Preludes, Op. 28 (5-8), Mazurkas (5-8)
• Schumann, Robert - Novelettes (5-7)
• Mendelssohn, Felix - 6 Children's Pieces, Op. 72, Songs without Words (5-7)
• Grieg, Edvard - Lyric Pieces
• MacDowell, Edward - Woodland Sketches, Sea Pieces (5-6)
• Bartok, Bela - Mikrokosmos, Vol. 4
• Finney, Ross Lee - 24 Inventions (Peters)
• Krenek, Ernst - 12 Short Piano Pieces, Op. 83 (G. Schirmer)
• Hindemith, Paul - Easy 5-Tone Pieces (Schott)
• Adler, Samuel - Gradus I and II (Oxford)
• An Anthology of Piano Music - Volume 4:The Twentieth Century, ed. By Agay (Yorktown Music Press)

Piano Literature Level 6

• Beginning Level for BME Piano Majors and BM Piano with Elective Studies
• Cramer, J.B. - Selected Studies
• Bach, J.S. - Three-Part Inventions (Levels 6-7)
• Haydn, Joseph - Sonatas (e.g. D Major, Vienna Urtext 50/Hoboken 37:G Major, Vienna Urtext 42/Hoboken 27)
• Mozart, W.A. - Sonatas (such as E-flat Major, K 282: F Major, K 547a)
• Beethoven, Ludwig van - Sonatas (such as G Major, Op. 49 No. 2: G Major, Op. 79)
• Schubert, Franz - Dances; Moments musicaux, Op. 94; Impromptu in A-flat Major, Op. 90 No. 4; Impromptu in A-flat Major, Op. 142 No. 2)
• Chopin, Frederic - Waltzes (6-7)
• Grieg, Edvard - Holberg Suite, Op. 40
• Debussy, Claude - Arabesques No. 1 in E Major and No. 2 in G Major
• Bartok, Bela - Mikrokosmos, Vol. 5; Sonatina; 3 Rondos; Rumanian Folk Dances
• Kabalevsky, Dmitri - Sonatina in C Major, Op. 13 No. 1
• Pinto, Octavio - Scenas Infantis (G. Shirmer)
• Riegger, Wallingford - New and Old, Op. 38 (Boosey and Hawkes)
• Shostakovich, Dmitri - Three Fantastic Dances, Op. 1
• Schumann, William - 3 Score Set

Suggested Materials for Preparation of the BME Proficiency Exam, Level 6

Refer to level 4 requirements for basic material in all subjects but add or supplement with the following:

Sight Reading

• Myrtle Merrill - Sight Reading at the Piano
• Bartok - Mikrokosmos, parts of Book II and Book III
• Samuel Adler - Gradus, Book I
• Denes Agay, ed. - Intermediate Classics to Moderns, Vol. 37
• Harmonizing a Melody
• Frackenpohl - prepare chapters dealing with ii, iii, and vi chords and plan to use them in a short example

Accompanying

• William Pelz - Basic Keyboard Skills, Part One (Allyn & Bacon)

Piano Literature Level 7

Beginning Level for BM Piano Majors

• Czerny, Carl - The Art of Finger Dexterity, Op. 740m
• Moszkowski, Moritz - 15 Etudes de Virtuosite, Op. 72 (7-9)
• Bach, J.S. - Three Part Inventions (7a), Well-Tempered Clavier, French Suites; Capriccio on the Departure of a Beloved Brother
• Scarlatti, Domenico - Sonatas (6-10)
• Haydn, Joseph - Sonatas (such as F Major, Vienna Urtex 38/Hoboken 23; E minor, Vienna Urtex 53/Hoboken 34; D Major, Vienna Urtext 61/Hoboken 51)
• Mozart, W.A. - Sonatas (such as G Major, K283, F Major, K280, B-flat, K570)
• Beethoven, Ludwig van - Sonatas (such as F minor, Op. 2 No. 1; E Major, Op. 14 No. 1; G Major, Op. 14 No. 2)
• Chopin, Frederic - Noctures, Waltzes, Polonaises, Preludes
• Schumann, Robert - Papillons, Op. 2; Waldszenen, Op. 82; Arabesque, Op. 18
• Brahms, Johannes - Rhapsodies, Intermezzos, Capriccios, etc. (7-10)
• Debussy, Claude - Preludes, Volumes 1 and 2 (7-10)
• Bartok, Bela - Mikrokosmos, Volume 6; Bagatelles, Op. 6 (7-10)
• Dello Joio, Norman - Suite for Piano
• Hindemith, Paul - Ludus tonalis (7-10)
• Kabalevsky, Dmitri - 24 Preludes, Op. 38
• Piston, Walter - Passacaglia
• Ravel, Maurice - Sonatina
• Schoenberg, Arnold - 6 Little Piano Pieces, Op. 19
• Schumann, William - 3 Piano Moods
• Shostakovich, Dmitri - 24 Preludes, Op. 34
• Tcherepnin, Alexander - Bagatelles, Op. 5
• New Music for the Piano, selected by Prostakoff (7-10) (Lawson-Gould)

Piano Literature Level 8

• Bach, J.S. - Well-Tempered Clavier, English Suites, Partitas, Toccatas (8-10)
• Haydn, Joseph - Variations in F minor, Sonatas (such as C Major, Vienna Urtext 60/Hoboken 50; E-flat Major, Vienna Urtext 59/Hoboken 49)
• Mozart, W.A. - Sonatas (such as D Major, K284; C Major, K 309; F Major, K332)
• Beethoven, Ludwig van - Sonatas (such as E-flat Major, Op. 7; A-flat Major, Op. 26; E-flat Major, Op.27 No.1)
• Schubert, Franz - Sonata in A Major, Op. 120
• Chopin, Frederic - Etudes, Op. 10 and 25 (8-10)
• Brahms, Johannes - Variations on a Theme by Schumann, Op. 9
• Debussy, Claude - Estampes, Images I and II
• Bartok, Bela - Suite, Op. 14
• Barber, Samuel - Nocturne, Excursions
• Shostakovich, Dmitri - 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87

Piano Literature Level 9

• Bach, J.S. - Italian Concerto
• Haydn, Joseph - Fantasia in C Major, Sonata in E-flat Major, (Vienna Urtext 62/Hoboken 52)
• Mozart, W.A. - Fantasy and Fugue in C Major, K 394; Rondo in A minor, K 511; Sonatas (such as A minor, K310; B-flat Major, K333)
• Beethoven, Ludwig van - Variations in F Major, Op. 34; Sonatas (such as A Major, Op. 2 No.2; C Major, Op. 2 No.3; F-sharp Major, Op. 78)
• Schubert - Sonatas
• Etudes by Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Liszt, Chopin, Brahms, Scriabin
• Brahms - Scherzo in E-flat minor, Op. 4; Variations on a Hungarian Song, Op. 21 No. 2
• Copeland, Aaron - Passacaglia
• Kabalevsky, Dmitri - Sonata No. 3 in F Major, Op. 46
• Chamber Music

Piano Literature Level 10

• Bach, J.S. - Art of the Fugue, Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue
• Mozart, W.A. - Sonata in D Major, K576; Sonata in C minor, K457; Adagio in B minor, K540
• Beethoven, Ludwig van - 32 Variations in C minor; Sonatas (such as E-flat Major, Op. 81a; C Major, Op. 53; A Major, Op. 101; E Major, Op. 109)
• Schubert, Franz - Sonatas
• Chopin, Frederic - Etudes, Sonata in B-flat minor, Op. 35; Sonata in B minor, Op. 58; Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49; Ballade in F minor, Op. 52
• Schumann, Robert - Carnaval, Op. 9; Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13
• Mendelssohn, Felix - Variations Serieuses in D minor, Op. 54
• Brahms, Johannes - Sonatas; Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Handl, Op. 24
• Debussy, Claude - L'Isle joyeuse
• Ravel, Maurice - Le tombeau de Couperin; Miroirs
• Prokofieff, Serge - Sonata No. 3 in A minor, Op. 28
• Scriabin, Alexander - Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp, Op. 30
• Schoenberg, Arnold - Suite for Piano, Op. 25; Piano Piece, Op. 33a
• Copland, Aaron - Sonata
• Chamber Music

Piano Sight Reading

All students whose primary instrument is piano will be required to pass a sight reading proficiency test, which will ordinarily be taken at the end of the fourth semester of piano studies. They will be tested at level of difficulty two levels below the repertoire and technique level of that jury. All piano students are encouraged to make sight reading a regular part of their practice.

Piano Accompanying

All instrumental and voice majors are expected to arrange for an accompanist with the approval of their applied teacher. A list of professional accompanists is available through the Chair of Keyboard Studies; payment is to be negotiated directly with the accompanist. A list of qualified paid student accompanists is also available through the Chair of Keyboard Studies; the rate for paid student accompanists is $10 per hour.

Other students are encouraged to accompany at the discretion of the keyboard faculty, and with the approval of the private lesson teacher in whose studio the student would be accompanying. These students will not be paid for their work.

Paid Student Accompanists

Paid student accompanists must be sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are actively studying piano or organ during the semesters in which they are granted this privilege.

Students will be made eligible for consideration as paid accompanists through nominations from their private lesson teacher and at least one private lesson teacher in whose studio they would be accompanying. Students nominated for such consideration will play a 10-minute (maximum) accompanying proficiency audition in addition to their regular semester jury. The accompanying proficiency audition will include one example of their work with either a singer or instrumentalist, prepared in advance; it will also include sight-reading. The faculty jurors will recommend students to be paid accompanists based on the results of this proficiency audition.

It is the responsibility of all private lesson faculty to monitor the work of paid student accompanists; paid student accompanists can be asked to re-audition if their work is inadequate.

Student Accompanists: Organ & Harpsichord

Requests for accompaniments using the portative organ or harpsichord should be directed to the instructor for those instruments, and students are assigned by the instructor on the basis of qualification.  Accompaniments must be appropriate to the instrument, and are likewise subject to recommendation by the instructor for organ and harpsichord.

Organ Repertory Requirements

PREPARATORY (where applicable)

J. S. Bach - 8 Little Preludes and Fugues (selected)

Dupre - 79 Chorales (selected)

Davis - The Organists' Manual (selected)

I. J. S. Bach

1 Trio Sonata

3 Free Works

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor S565

35 Orgelbüchlein

4 Leipzig Chorales

II. North German

3 Buxtehude Chorales

1 Buxtehude Free Work

1 Lübeck, Böhm, Bruhns

III. French Classic

1 Suite or Mass Excerpts

IV. 19th-century French

2 Franck (include 1 choral)

2 Widor/Vierne (one virtuosic)

Widor Toccata from Symphony No. 5 (may be abbreviated)

V. 19th-century German

1 Mendelssohn Sonata

5 Brahms Chorales, Op. 122

1 Reger Work

VI. 20^th/21st-century

2 American

1 Messiaen

1 Dupré/Duruflé/Alain/Langlais/Guillou