MUSC 1260 - Piano 1

Credit Hours: 2.00

Objectives:

1. Describe and apply a seating position that is centered, squared, and properly distanced from the piano keyboard.
2. Describe and apply the physical shape of the arm, wrist, hand, and finger positions at the piano keyboard.
3. Describe and apply the attack and release of the single finger stroke and release at the piano keyboard.
4. Describe and apply the attack and release of consecutive finger strokes at the piano keyboard.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to name, define, and read rudimentary music notation.

Objectives:

1. Name, define, and identify the keys of the piano and the corresponding location on the grand staff.
2. Name, define, and identify the treble and bass clefs, ledger lines, bar lines, and measures.
3. Name, define, and identify the time signatures, meters, note values, and rest values.
4. Name, define, and identify the key signatures and accidentals.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to name, define, and perform technical exercises.

Objectives:

1. Name, define, and perform etudes, hands together, with an emphasis on the contraction of the five‐finger hand position.
2. Name, define, and perform etudes, hands together, with emphasis on the stretching of the five‐finger hand position.
3. Name, define, and perform select single octaves scales, hands together.
4. Name, define, and perform select double octave scales, hands together.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to name, define, and perform expressive melodies with easy harmonic accompaniments.

Objectives:

1. Name, define, and perform songs in contrasting meters and rhythms.
2. Name, define, and perform songs in contrasting dynamics and articulations.
3. Name, define, and perform songs in different keys and tempos.
4. Name, define, and perform songs in keys requiring knowledge of primary triads and dominant seventh chords.

1. Introduction to the Elements of Music
   1. The piano keyboard and the grand staff
   2. Clefs
   3. Ledger line
   4. Bar lines
   5. Time signatures, note values, and rest values
   6. Posture and hand position
   7. Fingering
2. Playing the Piano
   1. The five‐finger position
   2. Beginning pieces
   3. More melodies and folk tunes in the five‐finger position
   4. Three counts to a measure
   5. Dotted notes
   6. Dynamic marks indicating a gradual change in the degree of power
   7. Introduction to accidentals
3. Major Scales and Etudes
   1. The thumb
   2. Hand contraction
   3. Practicing scales Shifting hand positions and related fingering patterns
   4. Six counts to a measure
   5. A note about fingering
   6. New hand position in the key of G
4. Theory and Use of Chords
   1. Songs with easy accompaniments
   2. Primary Triads
   3. Primary Triads with seventh chords and inversions