PREPARATORY A

No metronome is required at this level, but it may be used.

SCALES:

Option 1: Five-note scales for F C G D A E Major, hands separately or together. Choice: one from F C G and one from D A E, hands together.

Option 2: Five-note scales for F C G D A E Minor, hands separately or together. Choice: one from F C G Minor and one from D A E minor, hands together.

ARPEGGIOS:

2 octaves, hand-over-hand, ascending or ascending and descending.

ETUDE:

The etude should utilizes one or more of the following skills:

• Patterns of five-note scales
• Block or broken triad chords
• Cross-over arpeggios
• Displacement of patterns for extended use of the keyboard ▪ Staccato and legato touches

Suggestions:

• Bastien: First Pops (Kjos): 14, 15, 17
• Cabeza, Juan: Diversions, 21 Progressive Etudes, Vol. 1: any appropriate to level
• Dreyer, Paula and Marilyn Lowe: Little Gems for Piano, Vol. 1: any
• Faber: Gold Star Performance, Primer (FJH): 6, 10, 12, 16, 24, 30
• Faber: Technique & Artistry Book 1 (FJH); 10, 18, 20, 22
• C. Goldston: Fantastic Fingers, Bk. 1 (FJH) 4, 6, 8, 14, 16
• Guy: Expressive Etudes, Primer, (FJH); any
• Stecher: Rock, Rhythm, & Rag, Bk. 1 (Schirmer): 2, 3, 5

PREPARATORY B

No metronome is required at this level, but it may be used.

SCALES:

Option 1: Major scales for F C G D A E, 1 or 2 octaves, hands separately or together. Choice: one from F C G and one from D A E, hands together.

Option 2: Minor scales for F C G D A E, 1 or 2 octaves, hands separately or together. Choice: one from F C G Minor and one from D A E, minor, hands together.

ARPEGGIOS:

2 octaves, hand-over-hand, ascending and descending.

Or 1 octave, ascending & descending, hands separately or together.

Or 2 octaves, ascending & descending, hands separately or together.

ETUDE:

The etude should utilizes one or more of the following skills:

• Two or more 5-note scale positions.
• Extension to a 6th in either or both hands.
• Use of thumb-turns or unusual patterns to extend range of keys
• Arpeggiated passages
• Shifts between I, IV, and V chord positions.
• Extended use of keyboard, 2 or more octave shifts.
• Staccato and legato touches, 2-note slurs.
• Balance between hands.

Suggestions:

• Cabeza, Juan: Diversions, 21 Progressive Etudes, Vol. 1: any appropriate to level
• Celebration Series, Piano Etudes, Vol.1: any appropriate to level
• Dreyer, Paula and Marilyn Lowe: Little Gems for Piano, Vol. 1or 2: any appropriate to level
• Faber: Technique & Artistry Book 1 (FJH); 29, 33, 38
• Frances Clark Library: Piano Etudes for the Development of Musical Fingers, Vol.I
• Gillock: Autumn is Here (Willis 9670)
• Gillock: Clowns (Willis 9992)
• C. Goldston: Fantastic Fingers, Bk. 1 or 2 (FJH): any
• Guy: Expressive Etudes, Primer, (FJH); any appropriate to level
• Hirschberg/Lew: Technic Is Fun, El. A (Warner Bros.): any
• Myklas Contest Winners, Bk. 1 (Alfred): 8, 10, 14, 16, 20, 23, 26, 28, 30
• Stecher: Rock, Rhythm, & Rag, Bk. 1 (Schirmer): 6, 9, 12, 16

LEVEL 1

Metronome is required.

SCALES:

Keys of F C G D A E B Major and A D E minor, 2 octaves, hands separately or together, ascending and descending.

Choice: One major and one minor from above, hands together.

ARPEGGIOS:

2 octaves, hands separately or together, ascending and descending. NO metronome required.

ETUDE:

The etude should utilizes one or more of the following skills:

• Major and/or minor scales.
• Chromatic patterns.
• Alberti bass patterns.
• Arpeggiated patterns.
• Parallel, contrary and oblique motion.
• Combinations of various articulations and touches.
• Balance between the hands.

LEVEL 2

Metronome is required.

SCALES:

Keys of F C G D A E B F# C# Major and A D E B minor , 2 or 4 octaves, hands together, ascending & descending.

Choice: One major and one minor from above, hands together.

ARPEGGIOS:

2 octaves, hands together, ascending & descending.

ETUDE:

Your choice of any solo or an etude, from the list below, which utilizes the appropriate technique and musicality skills required at the intermediate level or higher.

LEVEL 3

Metronome is required.

SCALES:

Keys of F C G F# C# Bb Eb Ab Db Major and F C G minor, 3 octaves, or 4 octaves, hands together ascending and descending.

Choice: One major and one minor from above, hands together.

ARPEGGIOS: 3 octaves, or 4 octaves, hands together, ascending and descending.

ETUDE:

Your choice of any solo or an etude, from the list below, which utilizes the appropriate technique and musicality skills required at the late intermediate level or higher.

LEVEL 4

Metronome is required.

SCALES:

Keys of D A E B Major and D A E B F# C# G# Bb Eb minor, 4 octaves, hands together, ascending and descending.

Choice: One major and one minor beginning on a black key.

ARPEGGIOS:

4 octaves, hands together, ascending and descending.

ETUDE:

Your choice of any solo or an etude, from the list below, which utilizes the appropriate technique and musicality skills required at the late intermediate level or advanced level.

Etude Suggestions for Levels 1-4:

• Burgmüller; Friedrich, Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100 Burgmüller
• Friedrich, 18 Characteristic Studies, Op. 109 Cabeza,
• Juan: Diversions, 21 Progressive Etudes, 2 vols.
• Celebration Series, Piano Etudes, 10 vols.
• Clarfield, Ingrid, ed., Burgmuller, Czerny and Hanon, 2 vols.
• Czerny, Carl, Etudes, Multiple Collections
• Dello Joio, Norman, Suite for the Young
• Dreyer, Paula and Marilyn Lowe: Little Gems for Piano, 2 vols.
• Frances Clark Library, Piano Etudes for the Development of Musical Fingers, 3 vols.
• Gillock, William, New Orleans Jazz Styles and More New Orleans Jazz Styles
• Goldston, Christopher, Fantastic Fingers, 5 vols.
• Gurlitt, Cornelius, Selected Works for Piano (Kjos)
• Guy, Suzanne, ed., Expressive Etudes, 6 Vols
• Heller, Steven, Etudes. Multiple collections
• Hirschberg/Lew, ed., Technic is Fun, 6 vols. Joplin, Scott, Piano Rags
• Magrath, Jane, Masterpieces with Flair, 3 vols.
• Norton, Christopher, Connections for Piano, 8 vols.
• Snell, Keith, ed., Piano Etudes, 10 vols.
• Stecher/Horowitz, Rock, Rhythm & Rag, 4 vols.
• Stecher/Horowitz, Rock with Jazz, 4 vols.
• Waxman, Donald, Etudes, 4 vols.
• Yeager, Jeanine, Technique Teasers