Student Guidelines for Piano Majors

University of Santo Tomas

Conservatory of Music
Piano Department



















STUDENT GUIDELINES
FOR PIANO MAJORS

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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors








Residency Rules


• Two years for classification exams. Students must take their classification exams within the
first TWO (2) years of residency. Failure to do so will result in the following:

• Reduction of Academic Load - On the fifth semester of residency, the student will only
be allowed to enroll with a maximum of TWELVE (12) units, including APP-MAJ and
APP-MIN. This is done so that the student will be able to concentrate more on his/her
Major.
• Further Reduction of Academic Load - If the Student still has not been able to take his/
her first classification exam on the 6th semester of residency, he/she will only be
allowed to enroll APP-MAJ and APP-MIN.
• Change of Major - If the the Student has failed his/her classification examination, he/she
will be advised to changed his/her APP-MAJ.
• Yearly Jury Examinations Until Level 4. After classification, Students from Levels 1-4
should take their succeeding examinations within ONE (1) year. Failure to do so will result in
the following:
• Reduction of Academic Load - the same as above
• Demotion - The Student will have to repeat the previous exam level if he/she fails to
take level exams within THREE (3) semesters since the last exam.
• Exams for Levels 5 to 8. Students are allowed to take examinations within at least every
TWO (2) years.

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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors

Curriculum

LEVELS 1 and 2
Refer to the Extension Program c/o Prof. Fe Marsha Nicolas.


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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors
LEVEL 3
Scales and Arpeggios
All MAJOR keys: 4 Octaves in Parallel Motion
All MINOR keys (Harmonic and Melodic): 2 Octaves in Parallel Motion
Chords
All MAJOR and MINOR Triads in Root, 1st, and 2nd Inversion, block and broken
Études
At least 6 numbers from Czerny Op. 299
Bach
At least 4 numbers from Short Preludes and Fugues and/or Two-Part Inventions
Bartok
At least 4 numbers from his Mikrokosmos Book 3
Classical Sonatina
At least 1 COMPLETE Sonatina or a set of Variations by:
• Clementi
• Kuhlau
• Dussek
• Kasschau
• Mozart
• Beethoven
Romantic/Impressionistic/Modern
At least 2 Pieces
Supplementary Material
Kraehenbuehl: Jazz and Blues Book 5

LEVEL 3 MINIMUM EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS
• Scales and Arpeggios - all MAJOR keys (6 Flats/Sharps) in 4 Octaves
• Étude - 1 number from Czerny Op. 299
• Bach - 1 Prelude from Short Prelude and Fugues
• Sonatina - 1 COMPLETE Sonatina
• Bartok - 1 from Mikrokosmos Book 3
• Romantic/Impressionistic/Modern - 1 piece within the level of difficulty of Schumman's Album
for the Young

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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors
LEVEL 4
Scales and Arpeggios
All MAJOR keys: 4 Octaves in Parallel Motion
All MINOR keys (Harmonic and Melodic): 4 Octaves in Parallel Motion
Chords
ALL MAJOR and MINOR Triads in Root, 1st, and 2nd Inversion, block and broken
Études
At least 4 Études by:
• Cramer
• Czerny
• Op. 299 from number 9 to 49
• Op. 824
• Moszkowski Op. 91
Bach
At least 4 numbers from Two-Part Inventions
Bartok
At least 4 numbers from Mikrokosmos Book 4
Classical Sonatina
At least 1 COMPLETE Sonata by:
• Haydn
• Mozart
• Beethoven (Op. 49 nos. 1 and 2 only)
Romantic/Impressionistic/Modern
At least 2 Pieces

LEVEL 4 MINIMUM EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS
• Scales and Arpeggios - all MAJOR keys (6 Flats/Sharps) in 4 Octaves (determined by lot)
• Étude - 1 number from Cramer OR Czerny Op. 299 (from nos. 9 to 40), Op. 824 OR
Moszkowski Op. 91
• Bach - 1 number from Two-Part Inventions
• Sonata - 1 FAST Movement
• Bartok - 1 number from Mikrokosmos Book 4
• Romantic/Impressionistic/Modern - 1 piece within the level of difficulty of Mendelssohn's Lieder
ohne Worte, Chopin's Waltzes and Mazurkas, and Grieg's Lyric Pieces.

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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors
LEVEL 5
College Level/Minimum Terminal Level for Bachelor of Music in Music Education

Scales and Arpeggios

All MAJOR and MINOR keys: 4 Octaves in Parallel OCTAVES, THIRDS and SIXTHS
Chords
ALL MAJOR and MINOR Triads plus Octave in Root, 1st, and 2nd Inversion, block
and broken
Études
At least 6 Études by:
• Moscheles
• Czerny Op. 740
Bach
At least 4 numbers from Three-Part Inventions
Bartok
At least 4 numbers from Mikrokosmos Book 5
Classical Sonata
At least 1 COMPLETE Sonata by:
• Haydn (except the early Sonatas)
• Mozart
Romantic/Impressionistic/Modern/Filipino
At least 2 Pieces
Supplementary Material
Pischna; Phillip's School for Finger Independence

LEVEL 5 MINIMUM EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS
• Étude - 1 number from Moscheles OR Czerny Op. 740
• Bach - 1 number from Three-Part Inventions
• Sonata - 1 COMPLETE Sonata
• Bartok - 1 number from Mikrokosmos Book 5
• Romantic/Impressionistic/Modern - 1 piece within the level of difficulty of Mendelssohn's
difficult Lieder ohne Worte, Chopin's difficult Waltzes, Nocturnes, Preludes, and Mazurkas,
Debussy's Arabesques and Grieg's Lyric Pieces.


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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors
LEVEL 6
Scales and Arpeggios
All MAJOR and MINOR keys: 4 Octaves in OCTAVES, THIRDS and SIXTHS, in
Parallel Motion and Contrary Motion; Chromatic Scale in OCTAVES, THIRDS, and
SIXTHS
Chords
ALL MAJOR and MINOR Triads plus Octave in Root, 1st, and 2nd Inversion, block
and broken; Dominant 7th and Diminished in ALL KEYS
Études
At least 6 Études by:
• Clementi's Gradus ad Parnassum
• Kessler
• Moszkowski
Bach
At least 4 numbers from Well-Tempered Clavier
Bartok
At least 2 numbers from Mikrokosmos Book 6
Classical Sonata
At least 2 COMPLETE Sonatas by:
• Beethoven
• Haydn (No. 20 in C Minor HOB. XVI: 20, No. 30 in B Minor HOB. XVI: 32,
No. 50 in D Major HOB. XVI: 37, No. 52 in E-flat Major HOB. XVI: 52)
• Mozart (EXCEPT No. 16 in C Major K. 545)
Romantic/Impressionistic/Modern/Filipino
At least 2 Pieces
Supplementary Material
Pischna; Phillip's School for Finger Independence; Kullak's Octave Studies Bk. 2

LEVEL 6 MINIMUM EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS
• Étude - 1 number from Kessler, Moszkowski, OR Clementi
• Bach - 1 number from Well-Tempered Clavier
• Sonata - 1 COMPLETE Sonata
• Bartok - 1 number from Mikrokosmos Book 6
• Romantic/Impressionistic/Modern - 1 piece within the level of difficulty of Brahm's Intermezzi,
Chopin's Polonaises and Impromptus, and Schumman's Fantaisiestucke.


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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors
LEVEL 7 (Junior Recital)
Scales and Arpeggios
All MAJOR and MINOR keys: 4 Octaves in DOUBLE THIRDS; Chromatic Scale in
Contrary Motion
Chords
ALL MAJOR and MINOR Triads plus Octave in Root, 1st, and 2nd Inversion, block
and broken; Dominant 7th and Diminished in ALL KEYS
Études
At least 6 Études by, 4 of which must be Chopin:
• Chopin (except Trois Nouvelle Etudes)
• Debussy
• Liszt / Paganini-Liszt
• Prokofiev
• Rachmaninov
• Scriabin
• Stravinsky
Baroque
At least 4 numbers by:
• Bach
• Well-Tempered Clavier
• Toccatas
• Suites
• Scarlatti
• Handel
• Suites
• Variations
• Soler
• Platti
Classical Concerto1
 

At least 1 COMPLETE Concerto by:

• Beethoven
• Weber (except the Konzertstucke)

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A non-Classical Concerto can be played provided that the Student has already played a Classical
Concerto in a public performance.
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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors
• Mozart
• Hummel
• Mendelssohn

Romantic/Impressionistic/Modern/Filipino
At least 3, ONE of which MUST BE Filipino.

JUNIOR RECITAL REQUIREMENTS
• Étude - 1 étude from the list of requirements
• Baroque - 1 Baroque work from the list of requirements
• Romantic - 1 Romantic work within the level of difficulty of Chopin's Scherzi and Ballades,
Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies, and Brahms' Intermezzi
• Modern - 1 Modern work within the level of difficulty of Debussy's Preludes
• Filipino - 1 Filipino Piece
• Concerto - 1 COMPLETE Classical Concerto

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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors

Guidelines for the Graduation Recital

The program for the Graduation Recital should have a minimum playing time of fifty (50)
minutes, with or without a concerto, which SHOULD represent at least THREE (3) different style
periods including a modern work.
The program should include at least ONE (1) major work.
If a concerto will be played, Mozart and Beethoven concerti will be acceptable provided that
the concerto has not been performed in his/her Junior Recital. Likewise, any Sonatas in Level 7
cannot be included in the recital program.
Other requirements (e.g. Études, Pieces) studied in Level 7 may be included in the recital
program provided that they have not been performed in the Junior Recital.

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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors







Guidelines for Examinations, Recitals, and Auditions

All examination and recital application forms should be submitted to the Piano Department
Coordinator not later than one (1) week before the scheduled exam and/or recital.
All recitalists should submit themselves for auditions with the Dean or designated faculty
members not later than two (2) weeks before the scheduled recital.
Failure to follow all of the above will result in the postponement of the exam and/or recital to
the succeeding semester.
Examination and Recital programs are subject to the approval of the Piano Department
Coordinator and the Dean.
No single composer can represent more than one (1) style period.
All examination pieces will be played from memory.
The highest allowable level a student can take is Level 5 if the student will not be able to take
classication exams within two (2) years of initial enrollment. (even if their level of performance is
higher).


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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors






Attendance

A maximum of six (6) absences will be allowed per semester.

1 point will be deducted from the numerical exam grade of the student for every semester that
he/she exceeds the allowable number of absences.
The student who exceeds the number of absences will have to bring his parent or guardian
during enrollment for the next semester for a conference with the Dean, Department Coordinator,
and Teacher to discuss the student's habitual absences.
Students incurring more than the number of allowable absences will only be allowed to
participate in a maximum of one (1) Student Organization this semester.

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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors

Changing Teachers

Students are allowed to change their teachers in the Applied Major and Minor through a
transfer form to be obtained from the office.
Teachers have the right to not accept a student.
All of the above changes should be processed on or before enrollment. There will be no
processing of changes within the semester.
Graduating students are NOT allowed to change teachers in their Applied Major. In extreme
cases, the Dean's approval should be sought.

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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors

Important Dates and Concert Attendances

The schedules for Piano Fora can be seen on the Piano Department bulletin board.
Sign-up sheets can be found at the Conservatory of Music office.
A maximum of TWELVE (12) performers will be allowed per forum — with a first-come-first-
served basis.
Each performer is allowed a maximum of FIFTEEN (15) minutes of performance.
A semi-formal/smart casual attire is required for all performers.
The teacher-in-charge will serve as the moderator. There is an option for open discussion after
performance.

The Piano Exam and Graded Recital dates are to be announced.

Piano Majors are required to attend at least TWO (2) Concerts or Recitals per semester.

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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors

Academic Pre-Requisites of Exams
Students who passed the Level 5 Exam are allowed to take the following subjects:
1. PNO - LIT (Piano Literature)
2. ACCOMP (Art of Accompaniment)
3. PNO - ENS (Piano Ensemble)
4. PNO - PED (Piano Pedagogy)
5. CHM - MUS (Chamber Music)
The following subjects can be enrolled provided they already passed ALL HOM (History of
Music), CTRPT (Counterpoint), and THR (Theory) courses. The Student should be taking up FAA
(Forms and Analysis) by then.


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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors

Roster of Accredited Accompanists

Accompaniment Scheme

PHASE 1
APPRENTICESHIP

Freshmen and Unclassified Piano Majors can join the Apprenticeship Program with
permission from their Piano Teachers provided that they are preparing for at least Level 4
Classification Exams.
Each Apprentice will be assigned a Voice Major preparing for Level 1 or 2 Examinations.
Level 4 Apprentices will be assigned a maximum of ONE (1) Voice Major per semester.
Level 5 Apprentices will be assigned a maximum of TWO (2) Voice Majors per semester.
Apprentices will be assigned to upper class-men for coaching (not more than 5 each).
The Apprenticeship Program is a requirement for Art of Accompaniment class, a minimum of
ONE (1) year in the program with a minimum of TWO (2) Voice Majors per pianist.
The Apprentice shall allot a maximum of SIXTY (60) minutes a week per Voice Major for
rehearsals and/or lessons.
Apprentices will NOT receive any monetary remuneration at this phase.

General Guidelines for Apprentice Accompanists
The student is expected to learn his/her accompaniment pieces before rehearsing with their
soloists, as is the soloist expected to know his/her pieces before first rehearsals with accompanists.
Accompanists are expected to come on time to all agreed upon rehearsals and lessons. All
schedules should be agreed upon beforehand and the maximum hours allowed should be strictly
followed.
The apprentice will expect to be guided by the voice teacher on proper accompanying
techniques, balance, tempi, and the like.
A soloist may request for change of assigned accompanist and vice versa, only at the end of
the semester. Exceptions are made for extreme cases.
Any complaints regarding performance and/or attendance of the apprentice should be coursed
through their respective piano teachers.


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 Student Guidelines for Piano Majors







PHASE 2

The Student has to pass at least ONE (1) year of Art of Accompaniment.
Students wishing to be included in the Roster of Accredited Accompanists who did not take
the course can be accredited through an audition provided that he/she has been accompanying for at
least TWO (2) years.
Students enrolled in Art of Accompaniment will be assigned a minimum of TWO (2) Voice
Majors to accompany.


PHASE 3
ROSTER OF ACCREDITED ACCOMPANISTS

All Students who passed Art of Accompaniment will automatically be included in the official
Roster of Accredited Accompanists.
Prof. Najib Ismail will be the Official Accreditor for those who did not take Art of
Accompaniment.
Accompanists can give a maximum of FIFTEEN (15) hours to each student per semester for
rehearsals and lessons.

 

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