Piano Profiency Exam

In order to complete the sequence MUSIC 21, 22 and 23, Music majors or would-be majors must take and pass the Piano Proficiency Examination, which is offered in any quarter in which MUSIC 21, 22 or 23 is taught. Students who do not have the skills necessary for a satisfactory exam result may acquire these in MUSIC 12A, B, or C.

To arrange an exam, timzer [at] stanford.edu (email Timothy Zerlang). Private piano students enrolled with a department instructor may request a waiver from their instructor.

The examination consists of three parts:

A. Scales and arpeggios: Hands separately, two octaves and back, minimum speed M.M. = 92 per each two notes:

  • Major scales in E major, E-flat major, F major, F-sharp major
  • Melodic minor scales in C minor, A minor, F minor (descending in either melodic or natural minor
  • Diminished arpeggio (four notes to the octave) beginning on C
  • Major arpeggios in E major, A-flat major
  • Minor arpeggios in G minor, B minor

Students are expected to use traditional fingerings for the above scales and arpeggios.

B. Performance of a composition for piano:

This should be a performance, with or without score, of a piece from Schumann’s Album for the Young, at the following Stanford Music Library call numbers:

M1380 .S392 A3

M1380 .S392 A3 1969

M1380 .S392A3 1953

M22 .S39 B6

M23 .S39 P5B V.1

M23 .S39 F2D

M25 .S392 OP.68 S3

M25 .S392 OP.68

M22 .S39 W9 L (miniature)

The above are also available through ProQuest's Ebook Central.

Or Bartók’s Mikrokosmos, vol. 2:

MT225 .B28 M6B 1987 V.2 (six copies at this call number)

MT225 .B28 M6B V.2 (twelve copies at this call number)

or a piece of comparable difficulty.

C. Playing at sight a piece chosen by the examiner.

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