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Course Syllabus

Course: MUSC 1596

Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Music
Title: Private Piano I

Semester Approved: Summer 2019
Five-Year Review Semester: Spring 2025
End Semester: Spring 2025

Catalog Description: This course provides students with individual piano instruction. Private instruction is required of music majors each semester during college. Music majors receive one-hour lessons each week of the semester. The course is repeatable for credit. This course develops a student's technical, interpretive, sight reading, pedagogical and improvisational skills as well as developing a student's understanding of the history and repertory of the specific instrument/voice. A jury is required at the end of the semester. An additional fee is required.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 1; Lab: 0
Repeatable: Yes.


Justification: As an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), Snow College is required to provide competent private instruction for music majors in all vocal and instrumental specialties. Private instruction is required of music majors in four-year music degree programs and must appear on student transcripts. This course offers an excellent opportunity for all Snow College students to develop musicianship and performance skills. Courses of this type are taught at all NASM accredited institutions in Utah.


Student Learning Outcomes:
Private lesson students will:  

Develop good practice habits, and keep track of practice hours using a practice journal or log sheet This outcome will be assessed via the student practice log or journal.

Learn proper body posture This outcome will be assessed via weekly student performance in lessons, recital performance, and the end of semester jury.

Learn proper performing technique This outcome will be assessed via weekly student performance in lessons, recital performance, and the end of semester jury.

Learn and refine motor skills required for performance This outcome will be assessed via weekly student performance in lessons, recital performance, and the end of semester jury.

Learn musical literature (appropriate to skill level) from a wide variety of stylistic periods This outcome will be assessed via weekly student performance in lessons, recital performance, and the end of semester jury.

Memorize music for performance (where appropriate) This outcome will be assessed via weekly student performance in lessons, recital performance, and the end of semester jury.

In all cases of performance opportunities, students must demonstrate proper artistic style and technical facility. This outcome will be assessed via weekly student performance in lessons, recital performance, and the end of semester jury.


Content:
• Practice journal development
• Correct body posture including embouchure, hand and feet positions, and breathing techniques
• Development of tone within different ranges of the instrument
• Development of dynamic ranges
• Study of language necessary to perform music appropriately
• Study of major and minor scales and arpeggios
• Study of method books and etudes appropriate to student playing level
• Study of solo repertoire appropriate for first-year college students and/or the individual level of the student
• Instruction in performance practice appropriate to stylistic periods
• Development of performance technique, including memorization techniques, stage deportment and anxiety management
• Study and practice will be assessed through instructor feedback and public performance.

Key Performance Indicators:
Students in private music instruction courses are assessed in the following ways:

Attendance at lessons  20 to 30%

Documented practice hours 20 to 30%

Recital Performance 20 to 30%

Jury 20 to 30%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Repertoire varies widely from student to student in accordance with individual capabilities and developmental needs. Individual repertoire may include but is not limited to the following: Beethoven Sonatas, Bach Preludes and Fugues, and representative works from Chopin and Debussy.

Repertoire is available from a wide variety of sources including online websites that provide free download or in printed form from individual publishers as needed.


Pedagogy Statement:
This course will be delivered via direct instruction, feedback on student performance, demonstration and modeling.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture

Maximum Class Size: 1
Optimum Class Size: 1