A-State Piano Jury Technique Requirements

In consultation with the teacher, students may add additional technical requirements to their individual Jury.
 
PIANO MAJORS:  
 
Freshman, Semester 1:      
  • Pentascales:  Choral warm-ups:  Play 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 CHORD, CHORD, go up by ½ steps
  • All Major Scales, 4 octaves, in sixteenth notes, quarter note = 60
  • All Major Arpeggios, 4 octaves, in triplets, quarter note = 60
  • All Major Chords and Inversions

Freshman, Semester 2:      
  • All Major Scales in 3rds, and all Harmonic Minor Scales, 4 octaves, in sixteenth notes, quarter note = 60
  • All Minor Arpeggios, 4 octaves, in triplets, quarter note = 60
  • I – IV – I - V- I in all Major keys

    Barrier/Admission to Upper Level
  • All Major Scales and Harmonic Minor Scales, 4 octaves, in sixteenth notes, quarter note = 72
  • All Major and Minor Arpeggios, 4 octaves, in triplets, quarter note = 72
  • All Major Chords and Inversions
  • I – IV – I - V- I in all Major keys

Sophomore, Semester 1:
  • All Major Scales in 10ths and all Natural Minor Scales, 4 octaves, in sixteenth notes, quarter note = 72
  • All Major and Minor Arpeggios in Inversions, in triplets, quarter note = 60
  • I - IV- I - V7 - I in all Major keys
  • Review all technique from previous semesters, quarter note = 72

Sophomore, Semester 2:
  • All Major Scales in 6ths, and all Melodic Minor Scales, 4 octaves, in sixteenth notes, quarter note = 72
  • All Diminished 7th Arpeggios, 4 octaves, in sixteenth notes, quarter note = 60
  • i – iv – i – V – i in all Minor keys
  • Review all technique from previous semesters, quarter note = 80

Junior, Semester 1:
  • All Major Scales in Contrary Motion, in sixteenth notes, quarter note = 72
  • All Dominant 7th Arpeggios, 4 octaves, in sixteenth notes, quarter note = 60
  • i – iv – i – V7 – i in all Minor keys
  • Review all Major and Minor Scales (3 forms) and Arpeggios in parallel motion, quarter note = 90

Junior, Semester 2:
  • All Minor Scales in Contrary Motion, in sixteenth notes, quarter note = 72
  • All Major and Minor Arpeggios in Contrary Motion, in triplets, quarter note = 72
  • I - IV- I - V7 - I in all Major keys, with Inversions
  • Review all Major and Minor Scales (3 forms) and Arpeggios in parallel motion, quarter note = 100

Senior, Semester 1:
  • All Harmonic Minor Scales in 3rds and 10ths, in parallel motion, quarter note = 120
  • Review all Major and Minor Arpeggios in parallel motion, quarter note = 110
  • i – iv – i – V7 – i in all Minor keys, with Inversions

Senior, Semester 2:
  • All Harmonic Minor Scales in 6ths, in parallel motion, quarter note = 120
  • All Major and Harmonic Minor Scales in Octaves, sixteenth notes, quarter note = 55
  • All Major and Minor Arpeggios in Parallel and Contrary Motion pattern, in triplets, quarter note = 72 (Up 2 octaves – Out 2 octaves – In 2 octaves – Up 2 octaves – Down 2 octaves - Out 2 octaves – In 2 octaves – Down 2 octaves)
  • Review Diminished 7th and Dominant 7th Arpeggios in all keys, quarter note = 120

Graduate, Semester 1:
  • Fill in any gaps from Undergraduate levels above
  • Same as Senior, Semester 2

Graduate, Semester 2:
  • Fill in any gaps from Undergraduate levels above
  • Major Scales in Parallel and Contrary Motion Pattern (Up 2 octaves – Out 2 octaves – In 2 octaves – Up 2 octaves – Down 2 octaves - Out 2 octaves – In 2 octaves – Down 2 octaves)

Graduate, Semester 3:
  • Technique as assigned by Instructor

Graduate, Semester 4:
  • Technique as assigned by Instructor
 
NON-PIANO MAJORS:  
Instructor will approve appropriate level in which to begin study.
Metronome markings will be determined by the instructor. Students should play at the tempo at which they can play evenly and accurately, without hesitations.
 
Semester 1:        
  • Pentascales:  Choral warm-ups:  Play 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 CHORD, CHORD, go up by ½ steps
  • Cross-Hand Arpeggios in all Major and Minor keys
  • Chords and Inversions in all Major Keys, with correct fingering

Semester 2:  
Also serves as Barrier/Admission to Upper Level.  Repertoire should be Bach Minuet in G, Schumann easier pieces from Album for the Young, and similar.        
  • 2-Octave Scales with thumb turns, B, Db, F# Major
  • 2-Octave Arpeggios with thumb turns, all white note keys
  • I-IV-I-V7-I Cadences in C, G, F Major
  • Review all technique from previous semester

Semester 3:        
  • 2-Octave Scales with thumb turns, in C, G, D, A, E Major
  • 2-Octave Arpeggios with thumb turns, Eb, Ab, Db
  • I-IV-I-V7-I Cadences in D, A, E Major
  • Review all technique from previous semesters
 
Semester 4:        
  • 2-Octave Scales with thumb turns, in F, Bb, Eb, Ab Major
  • 2-Octave Arpeggios with thumb turns, F#, Bb
  • I-IV-I-V7-I Cadences in Db, Eb, F#, Ab, Bb Major
  • Review all technique from previous semesters

​Semester 5, or for those who have completed all Keyboard Skills classes: 
  • Do requirements for Freshman Piano Majors, Semester 1 above.  May be done hands separately or together.  



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