Piano Studies
UVU has an active Collegiate Chapter of the Music Teachers National Association. Called the UVU Contrapuntalists (http://www.uvupiano.org), they regularly meet to discuss ideas, organize events, and improve their teaching. All students seeking to be a piano teacher are invited to join, regardless of major! Check out the website and contact Dr. Demske for more information.
Piano Emphasis Majors:
Three classical pieces from memory in at least two of the following areas:
1. Selection from the Baroque Era, such as a prelude and fugue by J. S. Bach or a sonata by Scarlatti.
2. First or last movement of a Classic Period sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert.
3. Composition from either the 19th or 20th Century.
Sight-reading and major/minor scales and arpeggios. Popular music selections or arrangements do not fulfill the requirements.
Contact: Dr. Hilary Demske, Hilary.Demske@uvu.edu, 801-863-7360.
Accepted students are expected to attend Piano Area every Wednesday at 1:00 pm in GT 416, where they can hear each other perform, learn from guest artists, and study a broad range of piano topics. Majors also will perform a jury at the end of each semester, consisting of Major/minor scales and three memorized pieces from different style periods. Students are also required to attend five recitals each semester.
International student? Click here for detailed application instructions.
Piano Non-Majors:
Unlike most universities, UVU offers all students the opportunity to take private lessons with our world-class faculty. Motivated students with previous experience are encouraged to enroll. Lessons are found under the heading 'MUSC160R' in the online registration, and will be arranged according to your individual schedules.
During the first week of each semester, all registered students will be notified through UVLink of a general meeting. At this meeting, you will submit your class schedule and be assigned a teacher. Students are expected to practice 5 hours a week, and required to attend five recitals at UVU during the semester. Please give your recital programs to your professor.
Lateness and frequent absences, if not accompanied by a doctors note, will not be excused. The lessons do not have a performance requirement, making attendance and preparation the deciding determination in your grade.
Although not required, non-majors are invited to attend Piano Area and participate in all special events and recitals.
Group Piano:
UVU currently offers semester-long Group Piano I and II classes in an electronic keyboard lab with new Roland and Yamaha keyboards. All music-related majors are required to receive a 'B' or higher in both classes in order to graduate. Piano majors may also be directed to enroll as needed. Students need to be concurrently enrolled or have already completed Aural Skills I and Music Theory I in order to register.
Students learn fundamental piano skills including Major/harmonic minor scales, sight-reading, accompanying, harmonization, transposition, and chord progressions. There will be a brief review of key signatures and chord inversions at the beginning of each class, but students are expected to have a basic knowledge of reading treble/bass clefs, simple and compound rhythms, and the circle of fifths.
If you are interested in testing out either class, please contact Dr. Hilary Demske. Dr. Demske is the only professor that will be able to administer the exam. Please specify which test you would like to take.
The test for Group Piano II will include the following:
- All Major and harmonic scales, two octaves, with the correct fingering. A printable fingering chart is available here.
- Harmonize a single note Right Hand melody at sight, using the I, ii, iii, IV, V, and vi chords, in both Major and minor keys.
- Transpose a complex Right Hand melody at sight into a different key, with the same corresponding chords.
-
Sight-read the equivalent of a first movement of a Mozart or Haydn Piano Sonata.
- Play a chord progression of your choice that includes I, ii, IV, V, and vi, in all Major and minor keys.
- All Major scales, two octaves, with the correct fingering. A printable fingering chart is available here.
- Harmonize a very simple Right Hand melody at sight, using the I, ii, iii, IV, V, and vi chords, in all Major keys.
- Transpose a simple Right Hand melody at sight into a different key, with the same corresponding chords.
-
Sight-read the equivalent of a second movement of a Mozart or Haydn Piano Sonata.
- Play a chord progression of your choice that includes I, IV, and V in all Major and minor keys.
Special Events:
All special events, guest-artist recitals, and departmental activities are open to every interested UVU student! Fall 2009's 'Harpsichord Week' is a recent example of majors, non-majors, UVU and BYU students all collaborating to bring a new musical perspective to Orem. If you want an opportunity to perform and learn, we will try our best to provide it for you!
