Northern Virginia Community College
Northern Virginia Community College

Revised 9/26

MUS 241 - Advanced Class Piano I (2 CR.)

Course Description

Teaches advanced applications of keyboard fundamentals and technical skills. Includes exercises in intervals, triads, all major and minor scales, and simple and compound meters. Uses advanced repertoire. Part I of II. Lecture 1 hour. Laboratory 2 hours. Total 3 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

This course is designed to teach the student intermediate piano technique and to enable the student to read and play repertoire from a variety of styles and periods, to improvise simple accompaniment to single-line melodies, and to play fluently intermediate pieces

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: MUS 142, or equivalent.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  • increase reading ability, repertoire, and technical knowledge of the keyboard
  • increase fluency of keys learned in MUS 141 and 142, gain a working knowledge A major, F sharp minor, E major, C sharp minor, E flat major, C minor, A flat major and F minor by being able to perform hands together a I-IV-I-V-I progression, one octave scale and arpeggio in those keys
  • perform several two octave scales and arpeggios
  • harmonize a simple melodic line according to given chord symbols using keys with one or two sharps or flats using simple accompaniment patterns
  • sight read or short excerpt approximately 16 bars in length with no preparation
  • perform an intermediate level repertoire piece for their peers

Major Topics to Be Included

  • All major and minor scales, arpeggios, and chord progressions with four or fewer accidentals
  • Fluency of note reading
  • Understanding of interpretive and expression makings
  • Literature from a variety of styles and periods of composition
  • Concepts of intermediate improvisation at the keyboard
  • Concert performance analysis through a written concert report

Optional Topics

  • History and development of keyboard instruments
  • Biographical background of the composers of the works studied
  • Understanding and appreciation of keyboard performance