Wheaton Conservatory Handbook


Piano Requirements

Piano Level Requirements by Degree
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.

Major Bachelor of Music BM/Elective BM/Emphasis Bachelor of Music Education Bachelor of Arts
Piano Performance 10B 9B 9B
Piano Concentration 7A
Organ Major* 7B 6B 6B 6B
Voice Major 4B 4B 4B 2B
Instrumental Major 4B 4B 4B 2B
Composition Major 5B
History/Literature Major 5B
Music Minor 4B


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 TechniqueSyllabus, Piano Literature Syllabus).
  1. All Bachelor of Music and 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, 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. During their jury at the end of the junior year, Bachelor of Music Education majors whose principal instrument is piano must demonstrate competency in sightreading (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.
  8. Over succeeding semesters, juries should include contrasting pieces from various historical periods.
  9. The faculty jury reserves the right to hear only a portion of a prepared piece.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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 Students Who Are Not Piano Majors
This section deals with guidelines for student 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. A student 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.
  6. Students studying piano who have achieved their levels and required credit hours need not take further jury exams.
  7. Students studying piano who have achieved their levels and required hours (as in elected minor) need not take further jury exams.



Music Minor with Piano as Principal Instrument
Entry level must 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 three higher levels during their three semesters of continuous study (for example, a student who tests at 5a on entry would then go on to complete 5b, 6a, and 6b 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 fingering 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 andamp; 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.


Level Requirements Beats/Min Notes/Beat
1AB M Scales HS, 2 oct M Scales HS, 2 oct 60-80 2:1
1AB M triad chords, block -- --
2AB M Scales HS, 2-4 oct 84-100 2:1
2AB m scales HS, 2 oct 66 2:1
2AB M/m triad chords, block, 2 oct
3AB M Scales HS, 4 oct 104-116 2:1
3AB m scales HS, 2-4 oct 66 2:1
3AB dim 7th broken chords, block, 2 oct 60 2:1
4AB M/m scales HS, 4 oct 60-69 4:1
4AB dim 7th arpeggio HS, 4 oct 80-132 2:1
4AB 3 or 4 note M/m b/b triad chords HS, 2 oct 4/80 or 3/50 or block/40 2:1 broken 3:1 broken 1:1 block
5AB M/m scales HS or HT, 4 oct 72-80 4:1
5AB dim 7th arpeggio HS or HT, 4 oct 50-80 4:1
5AB 3 or 4 note M/m b/b triad chords HS, 2 oct 4/100 or 3/66 or block/60 2:1 broken 3:1 broken 1:1 block
6AB M/m scales HS or HT, 4 oct 84-92 4:1
6AB dim 7th arpeggio HS or HT, 4 oct 60-84 4:1
6AB M/m triad arpeggio HS or HT, 4 oct 60-84 4:1
6AB Chromatic scale HT contrary, 2 oct 60-84 4:1
6AB 4 note M/m b/b triad chords HS, 2 oct 120 80-120 2:1 broken 1:1 block
7AB M/m scales HT, 4 oct, par/cont 96-108 4:1
7AB M/m triad arpeggio, 3 pos, HS or HT, 4 oct 88-100 4:1
7AB dom 7th arpeggio HS or HT, 4 oct 88-100 4:1
7AB chromatic scale HT, par/cont, 2 oct 88-100 4:1
7AB *M/m octave scales HT, 2 oct -- 4:1
8AB M/m scales 3, 6, 8, 10 HT, 4 oct 112-116 4:1
8AB M/m triad arpeggio, 3 pos, HT, 4 oct 104-112 4:1
8AB dom 7th arpeggio, 4 pos, HT, 4 oct 100 4:1
8AB *M/m octave scales HT, 2 oct 66-80 4:1
8AB *M/m octave arpeggio HT, 2 oct 72-80 2:1
9AB M/m scales 3, 6, 10 HT, 4 oct; 8 cont 120-126 4:1
9AB M/m triad arpeggio HT, 4 oct 112-120 4:1
9AB dim 7th arpeggio HT, 4 oct 108-120 4:1
9AB +M/m double 3rd scales HS or HT, 2 oct **60 2:1
9AB 4 note M/m b/b triad chords HS, 2 oct 112, 80 4:1 broken ***2:1 block
10AB M/m scales 3, 6, 8, 10 HT, 4 oct 132-138 4:1
10AB M/m triad arpeggio, 3 pos, HT, 4 oct 126-132 4:1
10AB dom 7th arpeggio, 4 pos, HT, 4 oct 126-132 4:1
10AB +****M/m double 6th scales HS or HT 50-80 2:1
10AB +M/m chromatic double 3rds, HS or HT 80 2:1
11AB M/m scales 3,6,8,10 HT, 4 oct, 8 cont 144 4:1
11AB All arpeggios, M/m, dim, dom 144 4:1
11AB M/m double third scales HS 92 4:1
11AB *M/m double sixth scales HS 72 4:1
11AB M/m chromatic double thirds, HS or HT 92 4:1
11AB *M/m octave scales HT, 2 octT 92 4:1
11AB *M/m octave arpeggio HT, 2 oct 72 4:1


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: Piano Literature Level 2
Piano Literature Level 3
Piano Literature Level 4 Suggested Materials for Preparation of the BME Proficiency Exam, Level 4
Sight Reading
Hannah Smith - Progressive Sight Reading Exercizes (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 Piano Literature Level 6 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 Piano Literature Level 8 Piano Literature Level 9 Piano Literature Level 10
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; a paid student accompanist can be asked to re-audition if her/his work is inadequate.

General issues