Guidelines: Piano Proficiency Exam (Updated 2026)

Introduction

The UMW Piano Proficiency Exam allows students to demonstrate mastery of practical keyboard musicianship, ranging from solo performance to applied skills like score reading and improvisation.  This exam supersedes the pre-2020 keyboard requirement for the Music Major (two credits of Class/Applied Piano study).  However, students are encouraged to enroll in Class/Applied Piano to help prepare them for the exam, as needed.  Ultimately, the goal of the exam is to encourage students to develop practical keyboard skills that they can apply beyond UMW to teaching, performance, composition, etc.

Students may sign up for the Piano Proficiency Exam in one of two ways:

  • They may sign up during exam week at the end of the fall and spring semesters by signing up for two consecutive slots on the standard jury sign-up form, which is available outside Pollard 110 during the last week of classes.  Students should write “PPE” beside their name to indicate their exam intentions.  If a student is completing a piano jury, they may sign up for their piano jury slot, plus one additional consecutive slot for the Piano Proficiency Exam.  In this case, the student may use one of their jury pieces as Part 1 of the exam (see below), as long as the piece has been preapproved.  The student will also need to satisfy the Part 2 requirements (see below).
  • To take the exam at any other time throughout the year, students may e-mail the Director of Keyboard Studies (Dr. Wells) to schedule an examination in coordination with the other full-time music faculty.

We encourage all students with concerns about the exam format due to a documented disability to contact the Director of Keyboard Studies or Music Department Chair, as well as the Office of Disability Resources, so that we can provide accommodations as needed.  For semesters in which UMW is partly/fully online (due to COVID-19, natural disasters, etc.), students may perform the exam via Zoom or a similar video conferencing platform.

Exam Contents

Part 1

Play one piano piece that has been approved by the Director of Keyboard Studies (Dr. Wells).  Please e-mail or make an appointment with Dr. Wells (rwells@umw.edu) at least one week before you attempt the exam to check in about potential repertoire.  Any of the following types of piece can count for Part 1 of the exam:

  • A fully-notated solo piano piece.
  • The piano accompaniment to an instrumental, vocal, or choral piece.
  • A prepared performance based on a lead sheet (melody + chords).

For vocal accompaniments, you may sing while playing if you wish (although this is not required).

The selected piece should satisfy the following requirements:

  • Both hands should be playing for the majority of the piece.
  • The material in the two hands should be mostly independent (e.g., the piece should not simply be a unison melody between the two hands).
  • The piece should demonstrate moderate rhythmic complexity.
    • What qualifies as “moderate rhythmic complexity” might vary depending on the time signature, tempo, etc.  For instance, in 4/4, there should be some rhythms faster than a quarter note, while in cut time, there should be rhythms faster than a half note.  Dotted rhythms, ties, and tuplets can also boost the rhythmic complexity factor.
    • When you meet with Dr. Wells, he can let you know if your piece satisfies this requirement and give you some guidance otherwise.
  • A copy of the score for your piece (paper or digital—if digital, please e-mail to Dr. Wells) is required at the exam.
  • Memorization is not required.

If you are unsure of the general difficulty level we are expecting for your Part 1 piece, see the Piano Proficiency Exam Appendix (separate document) for examples.

Part 2

From the list below, choose two skills belonging to different groups.  For instance, you could select Skills 1a and 3b (from Groups 1 and 3) or Skills 2b and 3a (Groups 2 and 3), but not Skills 1a and 1b (both from Group 1).  Your plan for this portion of the exam (scales, excerpts, etc.) must be approved by the Director of Keyboard Studies at least one week before you attempt the exam.  Selected examples appear in the Piano Proficiency Exam Appendix, as indicated below.

Group 1: Technique

Skill 1a

Be able to play the accompaniment for simple vocal warm-ups at the piano, repeating a consistent pattern and moving up/down by half steps.  (Singing is not required.)  Students should prepare one ascending pattern and one descending pattern, and the ascending and descending patterns should be different patterns.

  • Any of the sample vocal warm-ups in the Appendix could qualify, but be sure you can progress through a full chromatic ascent/descent.
  • You may also come up with other warm-up patterns, as long as they are preapproved.
  • Be sure you are playing these at a “singable” tempo (quarter note = 92 or faster; if vocal warmup has eighth notes, then quarter = 80 or faster is sufficient).
Skill 1b

Prepare at least three major and three minor scales beyond C major/A minor, at least two of which should be inflat keys.  Scales must be played hands together.  Only 1 octave is required, although 2-, 3-, and 4-octave scales are welcome as well.

  • While we are not grading you on fingering, learning the standard fingerings will make playing these scales much easier.  See the Appendix for two-octave fingering charts, which can be adapted to any other number of octaves.  Aim for smoothness, continuity, and correct notes for all scales.
  • Of the six scales you prepare, the examiners will select four to hear.
  • Be able to play all scales at a moderate tempo (quarter note = 92 or faster).
Skill 1c

Prepare the progression I-IV-I-V-I (or i-iv-i-V-i in minor) in keyboard-style voicing in at least three major and three minor keys beyond C major/A minor. At least two of the keys should be flat keys. For examples of acceptable voicings, see the Appendix.

  • Aim for smoothness, continuity, and correct notes for all progressions.
  • Of the six keys you prepare, the examiners will select four to hear.
  • Be able to play your progressions in quarter notes at a moderate tempo (quarter note = 80 or faster).

Group 2: Score Reading

Skill 2a

Be able to play any combination of two parts from a choral or string quartet score excerpt (8-16 measures).

  • The Appendix contains preapproved score excerpts from which you might choose.  You may also find your own excerpt, as long as it is approved by the Director of Keyboard Studies before the exam.
  • If you choose an SATB choral score, be sure to prepare all six combinations:  S + A, S + T, S + B, A + T, A + B, and T + B.  Please read the tenor in the proper register (i.e., transpose tenor treble clef notes down an octave).
  • Similarly, if you choose a string quartet, be sure to prepare Violin I + Violin II, Violin I + Viola, Violin I + Cello, Violin II + Viola, Violin II + Cello, and Viola + Cello.  Please read the alto clef in the proper register (where is Middle C?).
Skill 2b

Be able to play, at concert pitch, any line from a band/orchestral score excerpt (8-16 measures) containing transposing instruments.

  • The Appendix contains preapproved score excerpts from which you might choose.  You may also find your own excerpt, as long as it is approved by the Director of Keyboard Studies before the exam.  Your chosen excerpt should contain at least two transposing instruments and at least three independent (i.e., non-unison) musical lines.
  • The examiners may choose any instrumental line from the score you select, so be sure to practice every line.
  • For a summary of common instrumental transpositions and tips on playing transposing lines, see the charts given in the Appendix.

Group 3: Improvisation and Transposition

Skill 3a

Be able to play a right hand melodic improvisation over a left hand chord progression.  The improvisation must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Underlying chord progression should be 8-16 bars long.
  • Underlying chord progression should contain at least 3 distinct chords (e.g., a progression consisting only of I and V chords would not qualify). 
  • Improvisation must incorporate at least one distinctive rhythmic idea/motive, which should appear several times in the improvisation.  See the Appendix for examples of rhythmic motives in various common meters.
  • Plan to perform 2-3 “rounds” of improvising over your chosen chord progression.

The 12-bar blues progression automatically qualifies for the chord progression.  Here is a summary:

  • 4/4:  I | I | I | I | IV | IV | I | I | V | IV | I | I :||

You may also use a jazz standard, a folk song, the “Rhythm changes,” an original progression, etc. as the basis for your improvisation, as long as it is preapproved.

Skill 3b

Be able to play the arrangement of “Happy Birthday to You” given in the Appendix in the original key AND in one other chosen key no more than a minor third higher or lower.

You may only have the original score in front of you for the exam (not a transposed score).

Grading Scheme

The examiners will apply the following grading scheme to each exam performance.  A student must receive a grade of “Pass” on Parts 1 and 2 to pass the exam overall:

Pass

Student demonstrates satisfactory to exceptional keyboard proficiency.  The Part 1 performance is generally smooth, with a consistent tempo and possibly a few minor mistakes.  An attempt has been made to observe expressive markings, dynamics, and articulation indications.  The Part 2 skills (scales, score reading, etc.) may contain a few errors, but the student demonstrates basic mastery of the skills and obvious preparation.

Borderline

Student demonstrates some level of proficiency, but demonstrates notable weaknesses during the exam, either due to nerves or lack of adequate preparation.

A student receiving a Borderline grade may spend an additional day or two practicing and then retry the part(s) of the exam that received this grade.  The second attempt will either receive a Pass or Not Pass grade (another Borderline-level performance will not be sufficient to pass the exam).

Not Pass

Student demonstrates a low level of keyboard proficiency, with errors that demonstrate a lack of basic competency (rather than a “bad day,” which a Borderline score might imply).

A student receiving a Not Pass grade on either portion of the exam (Part 1 or Part 2) may not attempt the exam again until the following semester.  The student must then retake the part(s) of the exam that they did not pass.  If the student is a graduating senior, they may retake the exam after a few days, at the discretion of the faculty, to fulfill graduation requirements.

Note: If the student makes notable mistakes during the exam, the examiners will ask them to replay the problematic portions and try to fix these mistakes.  If the student cannot fix the mistakes when prompted, a Borderline or Not Pass grade may result.