Class Piano I: MUS 1041

Semester: Spring, 2011
Instructor: Kent Baker
Phone: (802) 287-1066 (mobile)
Email: kentbaker@ginsumusic.com
Credits: 2

Syllabus in PDF format

Course Description:

• Beginning piano instruction including basic foundation for solid practices and techniques.
• The course also includes keyboard harmony basics.
• No prior experience necessary.

Required Text
Mach, Elyse, Contemporary Class Piano (7th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press, 2010. (ISBN: 0195389077)

Course Objectives:

• Develop music literacy.
• Construct and perform five-finger patterns and root position triads in all major and minor keys across the compass of the keyboard.
• Perform I-IV64-I-V65-I primary chord progression in all major keys.
• Improvise simple accompaniments on a given melody using primary chords and drone fifths.
• Perform repertoire as presented in the syllabus.
• Transpose simple pieces at sight.
• Sight read simple and solo repertoire.

Grading:

• Attendance and classroom participation – 40 points.
  • First two excused or unexcused absences are allowed without penalty.
  • Successive unexcused absences, deduct 3 points each.
• Quizzes (four, 5 points each, end-of-unit), 20 points.
• Skill checks (four, 5 points each, end-of unit), 20 points.
• Final exam, proficiency – scheduled hearing, 20 points

Attendance
Class attendance is essential for student growth. Feedback is immediate, individualized and tailored to each student’s success. Due to the lab nature of the class, attendance is required; combined with participation, it comprises 40 points of the final grade. Two excused or unexcused absences are allowed without penalty; additional absences must be accompanied by medical documentation or by prearrangement only, otherwise 3 points will be deducted from your final grade. If you must miss a class, please contact a fellow student for information regarding new concepts and assignments.

Make-up quizzes and skill checks:
Students are required to be present for all end-of-unit quizzes and skill checks. Make-ups will be given for the following:

• Sustained illness requiring treatment by a physician (note from attending physician)
• Bereavement in the immediate family (copy of/link to obituary)
• Officially sanctioned Castleton State activities in which you are regular team or group member (note from sponsor or coach)

Required practice:
Consistent daily piano practice is required. A minimum of 30 minutes of daily practice is recommended for the average student with no keyboard experience.

UNIT 1: KEYBOARD BASICS

Weeks 1 & 2: W 1/19. M 1/24, W 1/26

• pp. 3-13
  • Keyboard posture
  • Finger numbers
  • Whole, half, quarter notes and rests
  • Dotted quarter note
  • Parallel and contrary motion
  • Keyboard note names/black-key landmarks
  • Pentatonic improvisation (black key)
  • Sharps, flats and naturals
  • Whole steps and half steps
• In-class rhythm studies p. 33

Week 3: M 1/31, W 2/2

• pp. 14-21
  • Major five-finger pattern
  • Group I, II, III & IV keys
    • I, WWW: C, G, F (4th B)
    • II, WBW: D, A, E (2nd B)
    • III, BWB: Db, Ab, Eb (2nd W)
    • IV: Gb, B, Bb
  • Dynamics: piano, forte, mezzo-
• Ensemble, p. 34
• In-class rhythm studies, p. 33

Week 4: M 2/7, W 2/9 (skill check, quiz)

• pp. 22-31
  • Staff/clefs/grand staff/note names
  • Intervals
  • Meter (Time) signature
  • Tempi
  • Slurs and phrases
• Ensemble, p. 34
• In-class rhythm studies, p. 33
• Skill check, major five-finger patterns

UNIT 2: NONMAJOR HAND POSITIONS, BASICS

Week 5: M 2/14, W 2/16

• pp. 39-46
  • Ties
  • Key signatures
• Solo, p.61, The Contest
• Improvisation, D Dorian, p. 66
• Duets, pp. 56 & 82
• Ensemble, p. 88
• In-class sight-reading, pp. 71-74
• In-class rhythm studies, pp. 75-76
• Daily technique, pp. 76-77

Week 6: M 2/28, W 3/2

• pp. 47-57
  • Eighth notes and rests
  • Ritardando
• Solo, p. 61, Two Etudes
• Improvisation, black-key minor blues, p. 67
• Duets, pp. 83 & 85
• Quartet, p. 84
• Ensemble, p. 89
• In-class sight-reading, pp. 71-74
• In-class rhythm studies, pp. 75-76
• Daily technique, pp. 76-77

Week 7: M 3/7, W 3/9 (skill check, quiz)

• pp. 58-60
  • Drone bass
  • Round
• Solo, p. 62, Surfing
• Harmonization, drone, pp. 64-65
• Improvisation, D Dorian blues, p. 68
• Trio, p. 86
• Ensemble, pp. 88-89
• In-class sight-reading, pp. 78-79
• In-class rhythm studies, pp. 75-76
• Daily technique, pp. 76-77
• Skill check, Unit 2 solo of choice

UNIT 3: MAJOR & MINOR FIVE-FINGER PATTERNS

Week 8: M 3/14, W 3/16

• pp. 92-101
  • Additional tempi
  • Dynamics, -issimo
  • Accidentals
  • Dotted quarter notes and rests
  • Staccatos and accents
• Group I & II Keys, major & minor, pp. 127-141
• Solo, p. 102, Shoestring Boogie
• Ensemble, p. 166-167
• Improvisation, p.148, D Dorian and drone 5ths
• Teacher duets, pp. 160, 162-163
• In-class sight-reading, pp. 142 & 144
• In-class rhythm reading, pp. 156-157
• Daily technique, pp. 158-159

Week 9: M 3/21, W 3/23

• pp. 104-115
  • Damper pedal
  • Upbeats and downbeats
  • Slurs
  • Sforzando
  • Parallel motion
  • 6/8 meter (time) signature
  • Key signature review, add minor keys
• Group I, II, & III Keys, major & minor, pp. 127-141
• Solo, p. 146, Minuet, Etude in A Minor
• Ensemble, p. 166-168
• Written phrase pairs, pp. 149-150 (1-3)
• In-class sight reading, pp. 150-156, 164
• In-class rhythm reading, pp. 156-157
• Daily technique, pp. 158-159

Week 10: M 3/28, W 3/30 (skill check, quiz)

• pp. 116-126
  • Cresecendo and decrescendo/diminuendo
  • Contrary motion
  • 8va
• Group I-IV Keys, major & minor, pp. 127-141
• Solo, Etude in D
• Ensemble, pp. 166-169
• Written phrase pairs, pp. 149-150 (4)
• In-class sight reading, pp. 150-156
• In-class rhythm reading, pp. 156-157
• Daily technique, pp. 158-159
• Skill check, major & minor five-finger positions

UNIT 4: V7 (DOMINANT 7TH) & IV (SUBDOMINANT)

Week 11: M 4/11, W 4/13

• pp. 176-186
  • V65 (dominant seventh, 1st inversion)
    • Chord symbol
• Improvisation, pentatonic black key, pp. 219-221
• Trio, pp. 242-243
• Written harmonization, pp. 229-230
• In-class sight reading, pp. 233-235
• In-class rhythm reading, p.236
• Daily technical studies, p.237

Week 12: M 4/18, W 4/20

• pp. 187-197
  • IV64 (subdominant, 2nd inversion)
    • Chord symbol
  • I-IV64-V65-I major chord progression
  • Cadences, authentic and plagal
• Solo, p.217, March
• Trio, pp. 244-245
• Improvisation, 12-bar blues, pp. 222-224
• Written harmonization, p. 231
• In-class sight reading, pp. 233-235
• In-class rhythm reading, p.236
• Daily technical studies, p.237

Week 13: M 4/25, W 4/27

• pp. 198-209
  • Composite (compound) meter
• Solo, p. 217, Moving Along
• Hearing solos, pp. 553-555
• Improvisation, 12 bar blues, pp. 225-227
• Written harmonization, p. 252 (7-8)
• In-class sight reading, pp. 233-235
• In-class rhythm reading, p.236
• Daily technical studies, p.237

Week 14: M 5/2, W 5/4 (skill check, quiz)

• pp. 210-216
  • Changing five-finger positions
• Solo, p. 218, A Little Joke
• Hearing solos, pp. 553-555
• Teacher duets, pp. 238-241
• Written harmonization, p.252-253 (9-10)
• In-class sight reading, pp. 233-235
• In-class rhythm reading, p.236
• Daily technical studies, p.237
• Skill check, I- IV64-V65-I progression, major keys

Week 15: Scheduled hearing
(Final exam, proficiency)

• Key name identification (and enharmonics) [7]
• Note and rest duration identification [7]
• Staff reading, note letter identification [10]
• Key signature identification [10]
• Meter (time) signature identification [6]
• Tempi, identification [2]
• Dynamics, identification [4]
• Articulations, identification [2]
• Motion, identification [2]
• 12 bar blues, improvisation, key of C [6]
• All major keys, five-finger position [8]
• All major keys, I-IV64-I-V65-I [6]
• All minor keys, five-finger position [6]
• Prepared solos: [24]
  • p. 196, When the Saints Go Marching In
  • p. 218, A Little Joke
  • pp. 553-554, Homage To Bartok
  • pp. 555, A Conversation

This page was last updated on January 12, 2011.