Courses and Descriptions
PI 001R Student Recital 0 Credits
25 Minute Student Recital.
PI 001S Applied Piano Studio 0 Credits
PI 002R Student Recital 0 Credits
45-60 Minute Student Recital.
PI 045 Introduction to Piano Secondary 1 Credits
Designed for student will little to no background in piano study or music reading. Students will develop a foundation (basic elements) of pianism/musicianship skills and will focus on the most fundamental aspects of music study at the piano. 0 credits toward graduation, counts as 4 credits in the semester load.
Prerequisite(s): placement; Students must pass this course with a grade of “Y” to progress to PI 103: Piano Secondary I.
PI 103 Piano Secondary I 1 Credits
Establishes a solid foundation of piano playing through integration of musicianship skills in addition to building facile digital independence and bilateral hand coordination. Minimum grade of “B-“ required to pass the course.
Prerequisite(s): Grade of “Y” in PI 045 or placement.
PI 104 Piano Secondary II 1 Credits
Continuation of PI 103; appropriate for the advanced beginner. Minimum grade of “B-“ required to pass the course.
Prerequisite(s): PI 103 or placement.
PI 168A Applied Piano 2 Credits
One-hour, 2-credit required lesson. Included in tuition – no extra charge.
PI 168B Applied Piano 1 Credits
Half-hour, 1-credit required lesson. Included in tuition – no extra charge.
PI 168C Applied Piano 2 Credits
One-hour, 2-credit elective lesson. Not included in tuition – fee charged per semester.
PI 168D Applied Piano 1 Credits
Half-hour, 1-credit elective lesson. Not included in tuition – fee charged per semester.
PI 168E Applied Piano 2 Credits
Part-time students: One-hour, 2-credit required or elective lesson – fee charged per semester.
PI 168F Applied Piano 1 Credits
Part-time students: Half-hour, 1-credit required or elective lesson – fee charged per semester.
PI 168G Applied Piano 2 Credits
One-hour, 2-credit required/elective lesson. Half-hour is required and is included in tuition. The second half-hour is elective and is not included in tuition – fee charged per semester.
PI 203 Piano Secondary III 1 Credits
Establishes fluidity in piano playing through integration of musicianship skills, digital independence and bilateral hand coordination. Minimum grade of “B-“ needed to pass the course.
Prerequisite(s): minimum grade of “B-“ in PI 104 or placement.
PI 204 Piano Secondary for Mus Ed & Sacred Music 1 Credits
Development of practical keyboard skills: sight-reading; playing vocal lines and piano parts of choral works; playing individual lines/parts of small-scale instrumental works; harmonizing and transposing melodies with accompaniments.
Prerequisite(s): minimum grade of “B-“ in PI 203 or placement.
PI 205 Piano Secondary VCPER 1 Credits
Development of practical keyboard skills: sight-reading; playing vocal lines and piano parts of songs and arias; warm-up exercises; transposing vocal lines and portions of accompaniments; harmonizing melodies.
Prerequisite(s): minimum grade of “B-“ in PI 203 or placement.
PI 206 Piano Secondary for Music Theater Majors 1 Credits
Development of practical keyboard skills: sight-reading; playing vocal lines and piano parts of songs and arias; warm-up exercises; transposing vocal lines and portions of accompaniments; harmonizing melodies.
Prerequisite(s): minimum grade of “B-“ in PI 203 or placement.
PI 207 Piano Secondary for Theory Comp Majors 1 Credits
Development of practical keyboard skills in the areas of score reading (including one’s own works), use of piano as a tool for composition, and realizing chord progressions.
Prerequisite(s): minimum grade of “B-“ in PI 203 or placement.
PI 208 Piano Secondary BAM 1 Credits
Development of practical keyboard skills: sight-reading; playing vocal lines and piano parts of songs and arias; warm-up exercises; transposing vocal lines and portions of accompaniments; harmonizing melodies.
Prerequisite(s): minimum grade of “B-“ in PI 203 or placement.
PI 297 Fund of Piano Pedagogy I 3 Credits
Fundamentals I is devoted to study of techniques, methods, and materials suitable for beginning through early intermediate level students. Other areas of study include motivational strategies, establishment of effective practice habits, recital preparation, technique, and elementary duet materials. Students analyze and demonstrate teaching from three different beginning piano methods. Observation of professional teaching is done in the context of class and private lessons at the Westminster Conservatory.
PI 298 Fund of Piano Pedagogy II 3 Credits
In Fundamentals II, students continue to apply their experience with piano methods to the teaching of students. In addition, the semester is devoted to the study of materials from all style periods for upper elementary and intermediate level students. Students observe private and group lessons appropriate to these levels. The course culminates in an individual lecture recital demonstrating music from a variety of style periods.
Prerequisite(s): PI 297.
PI 397 Fund of Piano Pedagogy III 3 Credits
Fundamentals III involves supervised private and group teaching of beginning students. Emphasis is placed on lesson planning, presentation of concepts, use of technology, and the relationship between technique and musicianship skills. The course further addresses the different psychological and methodological approaches to teaching adults and children in class and private settings, and includes an overview of materials for the adult student and group classes. The course culminates in a lecture recital on a pedagogical subject of the students choice.
PI 413 Accompanying Class 2 Credits
This course is designed with the twofold purpose of allowing undergraduate pianists to fulfill their piano ensemble elective requirement within the professional studies area as well as providing an opportunity for voice primary students to further their piano study in a challenging forum in situations directly related to their repertoire. The students in the class will receive instruction in the stylistic, technical, analytical and linguistic aspects of vocal literature. The many issues involved in vocal collaboration will be discussed along with in-depth study of the pianist’s role in musical partnerships. Issues of musical freedom, language, and the varieties of sonic treatment unique to vocal literature will be discussed. Italian, French, German and English song repertoire from various style periods will provide the assignments for performance and discussion.
PI 435 Survey of Piano Literature I 3 Credits
A study of representative works from 1650-1800 by composers including J. S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, J.C. Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
Prerequisite(s): MH 248.
PI 436 Survey of Piano Literature II 3 Credits
A study of representative works from 1800 to the present by composers including Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, and Bartók.
Prerequisite(s): MH 248.
PI 490 Independent Research and Study 1-4 Credits
Students may pursue a special topic for which they have prepared through prior course work. Only one project may be scheduled in a semester. The project may involve 1-4 credit hours. Students may count up to a maximum of 18 independent study hours toward graduation. Approval of the faculty sponsor, department chair, and dean required prior to the first day of the semester in which the project is to be completed. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 required.
Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.