Course Syllabus

MUSC 3596 Private Piano III

Course Description

This course provides students with individual piano instruction. Private instruction is required of music majors each semester during college. Music majors receive 12 50-minute lessons during the semester. The course is repeatable for credit. Students will play in both a mid-semester Recital (one piece) and a Jury. Refer to the “Snow College Horne School of Music Piano Area General Policies” for specific Jury repertoire guidelines. The jury is required (for music majors) at the end of the semester. Non-majors have the option of performing in the jury but it is not required.Students must successfully pass the jury at the end of their second semester of 2000 level private instruction in order to register for 3000 level private instruction. An additional fee is required.

Justification

As an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), Snow College is required to provide competent private instruction for music majors in all vocal and instrumental specialties. Private instruction is required of music majors in four-year music degree programs and must appear on student transcripts. This course offers an excellent opportunity for Snow College Music Majors to develop musicianship and performance skills. Courses of this type are taught at most NASM accredited institutions in Utah.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate consistent practice habits, and keep track of practice hours using a practice journal or log sheet.
2. Students will learn repertoire appropriate to intermediate to an advanced grade level.
3. Students will be able to demonstrate intermediate and advanced technique skills necessary to perform more challenging repertoire.
4. Students will memorize music for performance (where appropriate).
5. Students will demonstrate mastery of selected musical literature (appropriate to skill level) from a wide variety of stylistic periods, including appropriate style and expressive artistry.

Course Content

This course develops and improves a student's technical, interpretive, improvisational, pedagogical, and sight reading skills as well as developing a student's understanding of the history and repertory of piano. Student knowledge and skill building areas may be drawn from the following:• Practice journal development• Posture, Position, Fingering strategies• Tone production, voicing, and pedaling techniques• Greater focus on instruction in performance practice appropriate to stylistic periods• Dynamics and articulatory variety • Study of major and minor scales and arpeggios• Study of method books and etudes appropriate to student playing level• Study of solo repertoire appropriate for third-year college students and/or the individual level of the student• Development of performance technique, including memorization techniques, stage deportment and anxiety management