Piano

sherbert789 · Post by **sherbert789** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:36 pm

Hey, I was recently accepted to Ithaca College for Music Ed. I have pretty much decided that this is where I am going to go next year. For all the music ed majors here (Ithaca or not)...how much piano skill would you recommend having to begin your freshman year? I'm not completely helpless when it comes to piano, but I'm certainly not playing out of the standard repertoire.

Any suggestions?

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:45 pm

I majored in Music Ed (Intrumental) and when I started, I had virtually no piano background. I knew notes of the keys, but that was about it. Since this is a flute board, I'll assume that you will concentrate in instrumental music. While piano is very essential for a choral major, it's also extremely useful for insrumentalists as well. It helps to get a better understanding of choral structures whcih will help you a lot in music theory.

Piano was a REAL struggle for me, so my advice is to become as proficient as possible.

MonikaFL · Post by **MonikaFL** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:49 pm

Most music programs will guide you through this, either by offering class piano or encouraging private piano lessons... because most music majors have to pass a piano proficiency. It does help with theory classes to have some basic piano skills.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:25 am

yeah, most programs will guide you through the process of learning piano, because it is part of the school's accreditation [spelling?] requirement. I myself went in with virtually no piano background, and I am doing rather well.

Although.... it really helped that I had a pretty strong harp background because I didnt have to learn how to read two clefs at the same time... I already knew how.

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:42 am

My music ed degree had a piano proficiency, as do all, I assume. Some programs require a minimum level before graduation, while my program required specific types of pieces from each stylistic period as well as scales, arpeggios, etc. The kind of required pieces pretty much assured that each student was playing at a reasonably proficient level. I had a few years of lessons during elementary school, but had to nearly start over because I hadn't been playing piano during high school. I wish I played better, but there's just not time to get really good at everything! The more piano background you can acquire, the better. Can you take some piano lessons over the summer, just to get started?