Content Loading
Skip to main content
The Bulldog - For the SWOSU Family

Music Proficiencies and Juries

  • proficiencies are separate from Juries. A jury (the performance of a piece of music, preferably with piano accompaniment) will be completed at the end of every semester that a student is enrolled in applied lessons.
  • during the semester a student wishes to take a proficiency, they should enroll in the 0.0 credit proficiency course. Students taking proficiencies during the jury examinations should sign up for two separate time slots – one for a jury and one for a proficiency.
  • he 1st proficiency is designed to be taken at the end of the second enrollment, and the 2nd proficiency is designed to be taken at the end of the fifth enrollment, but these are guidelines only and is up to the discretion of the applied teacher.
  • music minors are only required to take the 1st proficiency. Music majors must pass both in their major area. Three attempts on each are allowed; after three failed attempts a student will not be allowed to continue as a music major or minor. Music majors must pass both proficiencies before being allowed to schedule a Senior Recital.
  • he stated guidelines are minimum standards. Applied lesson teachers may assign additional and/or more difficult exercises at his/her discretion.
  • he grade of the Proficiency is not connected to the applied lesson grade. The jury grade is indicated as Pass or Fail in the proficiency course the student is enrolled in.

INSTRUMENTAL PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS

Proficiency I

Scales (P/F Grading – all instrumentalists must pass this skill in order to proceed with the exam):
Prepare all major and natural minor scales and arpeggios in quarter notes at a minimum of quarter = 60. Inaccuracies on more than 4 scales and 4 arpeggios will result in a failing grade.

Sight-reading

Sight-read 1-2 excerpts at an intermediate level (including basic rhythms, key signature up to 3 flats or sharps, moderate technical difficulty).

Proficiency II

Scales (P/F Grading – all instrumentalists must pass this skill in order to proceed with the exam)
Prepare all major and minor scales (3 forms) and arpeggios in quarter notes at a minimum of quarter = 80. Inaccuracies on more than 5 scales and 4 arpeggios will result in a failing grade.

Sight-reading

Sight-read 1-2 excerpts at an advanced level (including more complex rhythms and syncopations, any key signature, expression markings, and more advanced technical difficulty).

APPLIED MUSIC PROFICIENCY EXAMS IN VOICE

All vocal exercises and scales are demonstrated by the singer “a capella,” without piano accompaniment.

Proficiency I

  • Intonation (P/F grading—all singers must pass this skill in order to proceed with the exam)
    The singer demonstrates an ability to sing in tune.
    • The singer performs major and all minor scales at an even tempo with 3 or fewer total pitch errors. The singer may “fail” his/her attempt to demonstrate no more than 1 of the below skills:
  • Agile Singing (Beginning Level)
    The singer demonstrates a beginning understanding of coloratura singing.
    • Stepwise motion: The singer performs a 5-tone (DRMFSFMRD) scale evenly on a single vowel, with eighth-notes performed at a minimum tempo of: quarter = 100.
    • Leaping motion: The singer performs a simple arpeggio (DMSMD) evenly on a single vowel, with quarter notes performed at a minimum tempo of: quarter = 100.
  • Sustained Singing (Beginning Level)
    The singer demonstrates a beginning understanding of sustained singing.
    • The singer performs a whole note that moves through five cardinal vowels [i-e-a-o-u] without disrupting the tone or intonation.
  • Musicianship – Sight-singing
    The singer demonstrates an ability to sing a melody at sight.
    • The singer is given an 8-measure melody in a major key, with leaps no larger than a 5th, which he/she must perform after 2 minutes of score study with no more than 4 total pitch or rhythm errors. Proficiency II
  • Advanced Intonation (P/F grading—all singers must pass this skill in order to proceed with the exam)
    The singer demonstrates an ability to sing in tune.
    • The singer performs major, all minor, chromatic, and whole tone scales at an even tempo with 3 or fewer total pitch errors.

The singer may “fail” his/her attempt to demonstrate no more than 1 of the below skills.

  • Agile Singing
    The singer demonstrates an understanding of coloratura singing.
    • Stepwise motion: The singer performs a 9-tone (DRMFSLTDR’DTLSFMRD) scale evenly on a single vowel, with eighth-notes performed at a minimum tempo of : quarter = 116.
    • Leaping motion: The singer performs an arpeggio (DMSD’MD) evenly on a single vowel, with quarter notes performed at a minimum tempo of: quarter = 116.
  • Sustained Singing
    The singer demonstrates an understanding of sustained singing.
    • The singer performs a vocalise chosen at the teacher’s discretion that exhibits his/her ability to sing legato lines with sustained tones. Sample exercise: (S D--- S M D----) “Si-gno-o-o-ra”
  •  Musicianship – Sight-singing (Advanced)
    The singer demonstrates an ability to sing a melody at sight.
    • The singer is given an 8-measure melody in a minor key that may contain chromaticism, with leaps no larger than an 8ve, which he/she must perform after 2 minutes of score study with no more than 4 pitch or rhythm errors.
  • Independent Musicianship and Expressive Performance
    The singer demonstrates an ability to prepare and expressively perform a piece without the assistance of his/her teacher (though the teacher may help in finding an appropriate selection). The self-prepared selection is successfully performed with accompaniment (with pitch, rhythm, and textual accuracy). The singer effectively communicates the text using facial expression, dynamics, and gestures when appropriate.

KEYBOARD PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR KEYBAORD APPLIED MAJORS

General Regulations for All Keyboard Proficiencies

  1. Students will have three opportunities to pass each proficiency.
  2. After three failures to pass any proficiency level, students will be counseled to terminate applied keyboard studies.

Proficiency I

Technical Studies

  • Scales: ♪=176
    • All Majors, 4 octaves
    • 12 Harmonic Minors, min. 2 octaves
  • Cadences
  • Arpeggios
  • Etude/Technical Studies:

Repertoire

  • Repertoire 1 (Memorized)
  • Repertoire 2 (no memorization requirement)
  • Self-Prepared Piece
  • Sight Reading: Intermediate Level

Proficiency II

Technique:

Technical Studies

  • Scales: ♪=220, 4 octaves
    • All Majors,
    • All Minors (Harmonic, Melodic and Natural)
    • Chromatic
  • Cadences: Majors and minors
  • Arpeggios: Majors and minors

Repertoire

  • Repertoire 1 (Memorized)
  • Repertoire 2 (Memorized)
  • Repertoire 3 (Memorized)

Sight Reading: at the advanced level

GROUP PIANO PROFICIENCY FOR NON-KEYBOARD MAJORS

  1. Perform all major and minor scales: two (2) octaves, hands alone.
  2. Perform two (2) octave arpeggios of any major triad hands alone
  3. Perform any of the four (4) triad qualities.
  4. Perform any of the five (5) types of diatonic seventh-chords.
  5. Perform the Primary Chord Progression in all major and minor keys hands together.
  6. Repertoire at the middle and/or late intermediate levels.
  7. Harmonization of two single-line melodies. One with Roman numerals and the other with letter name chord symbols in both of the formats below:
    1. Melody and Accompaniment format
    2. Two-Handed Accompaniment format
  8. Score Reading
    1. One line of a choral work (minimum: 8 measure)
    2. Perform an instrumental line of a transposing instrument into the concert key (minimum: 4 measures)
  9. Brief Sight Reading of an elementary piano work.

MUSIC THERAPY GUITAR PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION

Successful completion of the guitar proficiency examination is required or all students pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy or equivalency requirements for registration in music therapy. Students must enroll in guitar their first semester at Southwestern, and the guitar proficiency examination must be attempted at the end of the second consecutive semester of applied guitar or guitar class enrollment. Students must continue enrolling in guitar until the examination is passed. Performance of each of the following eight competencies must be judged as passing by at least 50% of the examination committee.

Student_________________________________________________________________

Semester (circle one): Fall Spring Summer of ______________________(year)

PASS/FAIL

  1. Correctly identifies each guitar string by note, name and number.
  2. Tunes the guitar using relative tuning (55545), and to an external pre-tuned instrument (i.e. piano; pitch pipe; electronic tuner). Criterion: Correct within five (5) hundreths of a semi-tone.
  3. Performs 1, IV, V7 chord changes in the following major keys:
    C________ D________ E _________ G_________ A_________
    Criterion: Correct in two (2) trials each.
  4. Performs i, iv, V7 chord changes in the following minor keys: Am______ Em______ Criterion: Correct in two (2) trials each.
  5. Performs a chordal accompaniment to a song appropriate for group singing while singing the melody. The song must incorporate at least three (3) different chords and may be prepared in advance. Criterion: Correct in two (2) trials played at an even, appropriate tempo.
  6. Transposes the above song to two (2) different keys while performing a chordal accompaniment and singing the melody. Criterion: Correct in two (2) trials played at an even, appropriate tempo.
  7. Performs a 12-bar blues chordal accompaniment. Criterion: Correct in two (2) trials played at an even tempo.
  8. Perform& I, IV, V chord progressions using the following accompaniments: Strumming in duple and triple meter; alternating root and fifth bass note (bass strike) with chordal strum _________ . Finger picking ____________ Criterion: Correct in two (2) trials played at an even tempo.

Examination Committee

____________________     ____________________

____________________     ____________________

MUSIC THERAPY PIANO PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION I

The following examination is to be administered to students pursuing the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy. The examination must be attempted at the end of the fourth consecutive semester of enrollment in piano including all enrollments in piano class. The examination committee will consist of the members of the keyboard faculty and the Music Therapy faculty. Examination content:

  1. Scales: all major and minor scales through—two (2) octaves, hands together, minimum tempo 88 to the quarter note 16th-note pulsations), articulated and correctly fingered
  2. Chords: demonstration of the ability to execute chord sequence l—IV—V(V7)—I in any major or minor key, close position, hands together
  3. Song Accompaniment: the student will prepare in advance the accompaniment for a song of the nature for group singing to be played at the examination
  4. Transposition: the student will demonstrate the ability to transpose the song chosen for part 3 of the exam to no less then two (2) different keys
  5. Harmonization: demonstration of the ability to use the chords from the part 2 of the exam in harmonizing melodies, two examples to be performed, one prepared in advance of the exam, the second to be done at sight during the exam
  6. Sight reading: the student will read at sight one (1) line chosen from an open—score choral work
  7. Examination procedure:
    Each of the six (6) parts of the examination will be numerically scored by every member of the jury. All scores for each part will be averaged in order to achieve a final score on each part of the examination. Failure on any part of the examination results in failure for the entire exam. If the examination is failed, the student receives a grade of I for the term in which the examination is attempted. The following enrollment and each concurrent enrollment thereafter must be at the same applied level until the examination is passed. The student may attempt the examination no more than three (3) times. If, after three failures to pass the examination, the previous incomplete grades will automatically become W and the student will be counseled to terminate applied study. Upon successfully completing the examination, the appropriate grade will be awarded by the applied teacher for any previous semesters carrying the grade of I.

MUSIC THERAPY PIANO PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION II

Successful completion of the Level II Music Therapy Piano Proficiency Examination is required of all students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music therapy or equivalency requirements for registration in music therapy. The Level II piano proficiency may not be attempted until level one of the piano proficiency has been passed. All music therapy degree candidates must take the Level I music therapy proficiency examination no later than the end of the fourth semester of piano enrollment and the Level II no later than the sixth semester of piano enrollment. For purposes of proficiency examinations summer enrollments in piano count as full semesters. Students who fail either piano proficiency examination will receive a “W” or an “F” from all piano instructors the semester that they fail the examination. Students must continue enrolling in piano until the Level II examination is passed. Transfer students with three or more semesters of piano credit must take the Level I proficiency examination at the end of the first semester of piano enrollment. The Level II examination must be passed before enrolling in 4012 Music Therapy V (internship).

performance of each criterion must be Judged as passing by the adjudicator or jury. A passing grade is indicated by a mean score of at least 70 on a 100-point scale. Each examinee must receive a passing grade from the music therapy faculty and the piano faculty. The adjudicator or jury may elect to hear only a sample of each competency rather than the entire examination. Any adjudicator may request to hear additional examination material, or the entire examination for the purpose of obtaining a more representative sampling of performance achievement. Failure of any portion of the examination shall result in failure of the entire examination. The entire examination must be repeated in subsequent attempts to pass the examination.

Competency Area: Reading

Reads piano music commonly employed in the practice of music therapy.

Conditions for Acceptance

  1. The performance is prepared from piano music consisting of at least a four-part closed score (e.g., hymn book format).
  2. At least one representative selection is prepared for each of the following styles of music (five different selections).
    • Children’s songs
    • Folk
    • Popular (1950 to present)
    • Country/ Western
    • Gay 90’s” and music popular before 1950

Criterion

Each song is played at an even, appropriate, and correct tempo, with rhythmic and notational accuracy, and with appropriate musical expression.

Competency Area: Harmonization

Harmonizes from letter-name chord symbols written above the melody (e.g., lead sheet or “fake book” format: CM, Fm...).

Conditions for Acceptance

  1. One composition is prepared for each of the following styles of music (five different compositions).
  2. The compositions include songs with duple, triple and quadruple time signatures.
  3. Each composition consists of at least three different chords.
  4. Two of the selected compositions are simultaneously sung and harmonized.
  5. One additional harmonization is chosen by the adjudicator to be performed impromptu.
    • Children’s songs
    • Folk
    • Popular (1950 to present)
    • Country/Western
    • “Gay 90’s” and music popular before 1950

Criteria

Each song is played at an even, appropriate, and correct tempo, with rhythmic and notational accuracy, and with appropriate musical expression.

Each rhythmic bass accompaniment is appropriate for the above styles of music (i.e., ragtime, waltz, Latin, rock, blues). Static or simplified accompaniments such as whole-note triads are avoided.

Each harmonization includes approximately one right-hand “melody” chord per measure.

Competency Area: Transposition

Transposes songs to match the singing ranges of clients.

Conditions for Acceptance

  1. Three songs are transposed, each representative of a different style of music as listed above.
  2. The songs are transposed to a key other than the key in which they were originally performed.
  3. Two of the songs are simultaneously sung and transposed.
  4. Each transposition contains at least three different chords.

Criteria

Each song is played at an even, appropriate, and correct tempo, with rhythmic and notational accuracy, and with appropriate musical expression

Each rhythmic bass accompaniment is appropriate for the above styles of music (i.e., ragtime, waltz, Latin, rock, blues). Static or simplified accompaniments such as whole-note triads are avoided.

Each transposition includes approximately one right-hand “melody” chord per measure.

Competency Area: Chord Progressions

Performs chord progressions without playing the melody.

Conditions for Acceptance

  1. A 12-bar blues pattern is performed from memory in at least two different keys.
  2. A 12-bar blues pattern is performed from memory while singing a vocal accompaniment.
  3. Using a lead-sheet (melody; lyrics; letter names of chords) consisting of at least three different I chords, the chord progressions are performed while singing the melody and lyrics. One performance is prepared and one is impromptu, chosen by the adjudicator.
  4. Given letter names of chords above the lyrics (with no melody written), the chord progression of a familiar song will be performed while singing the melody. The song must contain at least three different chords. One performance will be prepared and one will be impromptu, chosen by the adjudicator.

Criteria

Each chord progression is played at an even, appropriate, and correct tempo, with rhythmic and notational accuracy, and with appropriate musical expression.

Each chord progression is performed hands together, using rhythmic bass accompaniments appropriate for the above styles of music (i.e., ragtime, waltz, Latin, rock, blues). Static or simplified accompaniments such as whole-note triads are avoided.

Competency Area: Improvisation

Demonstrates improvisational skills appropriate for music therapy.

Conditions for Acceptance

  1. Three one-note melodies are improvised. At least two of the melodies will project a different mood, and each of the three melodies will differ in meter from the others (e.g., the first melody in duple, the second in triple, and the third in quadruple meter).
  2. The above melodies are harmonized with a rhythmic bass accompaniment appropriate for the style of improvisation. Static or simplified accompaniments such as whole-note triads are avoided.
  3. A melody is improvised to a rhythm played by the adjudicator.
  4. A rhythmic chordal accompaniment (progression) consisting of at least three different chords, is improvised to a rhythm played by the adjudicator.
  5. A rhythmic chordal accompaniment (progression) is improvised to a melody played by the adjudicator.

Criteria

Each improvisation is played in rhythm at an even, appropriate, and correct tempo, and with musical expression.

Each improvisation is performed hands together, using rhythmic bass accompaniments appropriate for the above styles of music (i.e., ragtime, waltz, Latin, rock, blues). Static or simplified accompaniments such as whole-note triads are avoided.