Piano Proficiency Exam
All undergraduate music majors at WSU (BM in performance, music education, and music business) are required to pass the piano proficiency exam.
Students with little to no experience will register for group piano classes. These courses prepare students for the exam, covering everything from the very basics of piano playing to every part required for the exam. Students with significant piano experience and adequate skills can directly take the piano proficiency exam, and, in case of a positive outcome, test out of group piano classes.
Students pursuing a BA in music must either pass the piano proficiency exam or pass MUS 181 and 182.
The piano proficiency exam consists of 6 parts:
- All major and harmonic minor scales, 2 octaves, hands together, followed by the chord progression (I IV6/4 I V6/5 I).
- 2 piano pieces of your choice at the early intermediate level (memorization is not required) – please check with me your repertoire selection.
- Star-Spangled Banner – melody in the right hand, chords in the left hand (download the required version of the Star Spangled Banner [pdf]).
- Combinations of 2 voices from a SATB score (given 24 hours in advance).
- A melody to harmonize with I-ii-IV-V-vi (given 24 hours in advance).
- A simple piano piece to transpose to 4 different keys (given 24 hours in advance).
In grading the proficiency, we expect you to demonstrate good fingerings in the scales and cadences (and in the other pieces), correct realization of harmonies in the harmonizations, and fluent musical playing. If the faculty determines that your skills need to improve, we will assign you to an appropriate piano class.
If you have any questions, please contact me at fabio.menchetti@wsu.edu.
Sincerely,
Dr. Fabio Menchetti
Assistant Professor of Piano and Keyboard Area Coordinator