Piano Placement
CLASS PIANO PLACEMENT EXAM INFORMATION
This class piano information applies to the following for the 2022-23 Academic Year:
Anyone who wishes to take the Piano Placement must contact Jiyong.Kim@fredonia.edu in advance.
- Incoming Freshmen
- Transfer students
- Any current students wishing to test out of a certain level of class piano
In order to complete the requirements for a level of piano class and be eligible to sign up for the next level, a student must satisfactorily complete ALL listed components under that level.
“Satisfactory” completion means fluent, smooth playing with a minimum of errors and
hesitations.
Any questions about the exam content or procedure should be directed to Prof. Jiyong Kim
at jiyong.kim@fredonia.edu.
Current Fredonia students: Contact Prof. Jiyong Kim at the e-mail address above to schedule an exam
time.
Incoming First-Year and Transfer students (beginning Fall 2022): Your placement exam
will be scheduled for you. You will receive more information via email from the Music Office.
- All requirements for MUS 117 and MUS 118 taken from Lyke/Caramia’s, Keyboard Musicianship: Piano for Adults Book 1, 11th Edition.
- All requirements for MUS 217 and MUS 218 taken from Lyke/Caramia’s, Keyboard Musicianship: Piano for Adults Book 2, 11th Edition.
To complete MUS 117:
1. Scales:
Prepare the following scales in 2 octaves, hands together, observing the correct fingering:
- C, G, D, A, and E majors
- C, G, D, A, and E harmonic minors
2. Chord progressions:
Prepare the I-IV64-I-V65-I progression in the keys of C, G, D, A, and E majors and minors with
the root in the bass and chords in the right hand. See bottom of p. 112, under the heading "two-
handed style: a more pianistic texture” for an example.
3. Harmonization:
Harmonize a minor key selection of your choice on p. 120, using block chords/triads in the LH,
and playing the melody in the RH. Only tonic and dominant seventh chords should be used in
the LH.
4. Solo repertoire:
Perform Spindler’s “Song” on p. 148 at a minimum tempo of dotted quarter=50 with fluency and
correct fingerings (for freshman placement exams, you may substitute of a piece of a comparable
length and level of difficulty).
5. Sight-Reading:
Be prepared to sight-read a short solo section similar in difficulty to selections on pg. 131-133.
To complete MUS 118:
1. Scales:
Prepare the following scales in 2 octaves, hands together, observing the correct fingerings:
- All white key major scales
- F-sharp major, C-sharp major scales
- C, G, D, A, and E harmonic minor scales
2. Chord progressions:
Prepare the I-IV64-I-V65-I progression in same keys listed above under scales with the root in
the bass and chords in the right hand. See bottom of p. 112, under the heading "two-handed
style: a more pianistic texture” for an example.
3. Harmonization:
Perform one of the harmonized melodies on p. 252-253 (melodies with secondary dominant
chords). Harmonization MUST follow the style given in the opening measures of each melody
(i.e. “keyboard style” with single note in LH bass and remaining voices in RH).
4. Solo repertoire:
Perform one of the following solo repertoire selections with fluency (for freshman placement
exams, you may substitute of a piece of a comparable length and level of difficulty):
- Andante in G minor, Telemann (p. 281)
- Minuet in F, Haydn (p. 282)
5. Sight-Reading:
Be prepared to sight-read a short solo selection similar in difficulty to selections on p. 314-317.
To complete MUS 217:
1. Scales:
Prepare the following scales in 2 octaves, hands together, observing the correct fingerings.
- All black key majors
- All white key harmonic minors
2. Chord progressions and arpeggios:
- Prepare the I-IV64-I-V65-I progression in the same keys listed above under scales with the root in the bass and chords in the right hand. See bottoms of pages 1 and 2 for an example.
- Prepare hands together arpeggios in the same keys listed above under scales, observing the correct fingering. See the appendix of the text for an example (pp. 343-354)
3. Score Reading:
- Perform Haydn’s Psalm 69 (p. 136), all 3 parts together (for freshman placement exams, you may stop on the downbeat of m. 8) AND
- Perform both instrumental score excerpts on p. 137 in concert pitch with fluency and in the correct range.
4. Solo repertoire:
Perform one of the following solo repertoire selections with fluency (for freshman placement
exams, you may substitute of a piece of a comparable length and level of difficulty):
- Air, F. J. Haydn (p. 114)
- Ecossaise, Beethoven (p. 155)
5. Harmonization:
- Perform English Carol (p. 136) using the suggested “keyboard style” with single note in LH bass and remaining voices in the RH.
6. Sight Reading: Be prepared to sight-read a short solo selection similar in difficulty to
selections on p. 134.
To complete MUS 218:
1. Scales:
Prepare the following scales in 2 octaves, hands together, observing correct fingerings.
- All black key harmonic minors
- All black key majors
2. Chord progressions and arpeggios:
- Prepare the I-IV64-I-V65-I progression in the same keys listed above under scales with the root in the bass and chords in the right hand. See bottoms of pages 1 and 2 for an example.
- Prepare hands together arpeggios in the same keys listed above under scales, observing the correct fingering. See the appendix of the text for an example (pp. 343-354)
3. Harmonization:
Prepare the Thuringian melody on p. 303 using keyboard style.
2. Score Reading:
- Perform Schubert’s String Quartet in D Minor (p. 275), all 4 parts together OR
- Perform Mozart’s “Soon Spreads the Morning Light” (p. 274), all 3 parts together
- For freshman placement, you may prepare mm. 1-8 of the Schubert and mm.1-8 of the
Mozart
4. Repertoire:
Perform one of the following solo repertoire selections with fluency (for freshman placement
exams, you may substitute of a piece of a comparable length and level of difficulty):
- Old French Song, P. Tchaikovsky (p. 292)
- Sarabande, G.F. Handel (p. 331)
5. Sight reading. Be prepared to sight-read a short solo selection similar in difficulty to selections
on p. 308.