Group Piano for Music Majors

Group Piano

Music majors* in Group Piano Level 1 to 4 (MUTE 1311, 1321, 2311, 2321) learn a variety of keyboarding skills that enhance a student’s ability to use the piano in their academic pursuits and in their future musical careers. The skills at the core of the curriculum include:

Technique: five-finger patterns, scales, arpeggios, chord qualities, chord progressions
Creative skills: improvisation, harmonization, transposition, accompaniment creation, lead sheets
Reading: grand staff reading including treble and bass clef, sight reading piano music and chorales, choral scores, instrumental scores including transposing instruments and other clefs
Repertoire: piano solo (from elementary to early intermediate in difficulty), piano duet, piano ensemble

To encourage creative and individualized learning, projects are included in each level of Group Piano. The projects allow for student choice and differentiation through the study of accompanying, lead sheets, duets, and ensembles, and a final career-focused project.

Group Piano courses are taught in the state-of-the-art Group Piano Labs in Catlett Music Center. These labs are equipped with Yamaha Clavinovas (digital pianos), a Yamaha Lab Controller, and recently updated classroom technology for interactive and dynamic display. This technology allows instructors to use integrative and cooperative learning strategies to creatively engage students.

Keyboard proficiency, a benchmark required in music degrees, is achieved by passing all Group Piano and Applied Piano courses required within the degree. For complete information, refer to the degree plan and Undergraduate Handbook.

*Note: Students pursuing degrees outside of music can enroll in a similar course, Beginning Piano Levels 1 and 2 (MUNM 1022 and 1032). The first course is designed for students who have not previously studied music.

Advanced Placement in Group Piano

Students who have previously taken piano lessons or collegiate courses at other schools can request a placement exam. Note that Group Piano college courses move substantially faster compared to pre-college lessons and that Group Piano credits from other institutions to do not transfer. To "pass out" of a level, this is often the required years of study:

Level 1 (MUTE 1311): Pre-college study for at least 3+ years
Level 2 (MUTE 1321): Pre-college study for at least 6+ years
Level 3-4 (MUTE 2311 and 2321): Students are rarely able to place out of all levels, although it may be possible for students with an advanced command of piano technique (i.e. 10 years of study).

Placement is offered at the start of Fall term (the week before classes and the first week of classes) and during advisement periods in Fall and Spring semesters. To request a placement exam, fill out this online form.

Request Placement Exam

What is included during Group Piano placement?

When possible, students will be asked to play a portion of a piano piece, song, accompaniment, etc. (any style), to demonstrate current technical facility.
Sight-reading on the grand staff, both hands
Five-finger patterns and triads, all keys, major and minor
Two-octave scales in major and harmonic minor forms, single hand using standard fingerings
Two-octave arpeggios in major and minor form, single hand using standard fingerings
Harmonization (lead sheet and chord sheet playing), both hands

Questions?

Contact the Coordinator of Group Piano, Dr. Sara M. Ernst, smernst@ou.edu.

Photo of Group Piano instructor and students in group piano room.