Music at Hamilton
Proficiency Requirements for Music Concentrators
Aural Skills
Sightreading:
1. Sight read in treble and bass clef diatonic melodies in all major keys (with leaps and steps) within a one octave range using solfege syllables or scale numbers (solfege preferred, and that is what Mus 180 uses).
2. Sight read in treble and bass clef diatonic melodies in all minor keys (with leaps and steps) within a one octave range using solfege syllables or scale numbers (solfege preferred, and that is what Mus 180 uses). Exercises will include natural, melodic, and harmonic minor scales.
3. Sight read rhythms in simple meters with subdivisions of four and triplets (including dotted and tied rhythms).
4. Sight read rhythms in compound meters with subdivisions of two (including dotted and tied rhythms).
Ear Training:
1. Intervals: identify any interval (ascending or descending) played up to an octave.
2. Triads: identify the quality of any triad (major, minor, diminished, augmented, major-minor 7th).
3. Chord progressions: identify authentic and plagal cadences (V-I and IV-I; V-i and iv-i) in both major and minor keys.
4. Notate short (four-measure) diatonic melodies (with leaps and steps) in simple and compound meters and in both major and minor keys within a one-octave range (after four hearings).
Proficiency in Aural Skills may be demonstrated by:
1) Completing Mus 180 (Basic Aural Skills) with a grade of B+ or higher OR
2) Meeting with Prof. Hamessley and demonstrating competency in the above skills.
Keyboard Skills
1. Treble and bass clef note identification; keyboard note location.
2. Intervals: play any interval up to an octave above or below any given note.
3. Major scales: either hand, play in any key, two octaves ascending and descending, correct fingering memorized.
4. Minor scales: either hand, play in any key, two octaves ascending and descending, correct fingering memorized.
5. Triads: play any triad given the root, 3rd, or 5th.
6. Chord progressions: play the following in any major or minor key (two hands) – IV-V-I, ii6-V-I.
7. Seventh chords: play any one given the root, 3rd, 5th, or 7th.
8. Basic note reading (as in a beginning piano book).
9. Sight read a hymn or four-part chord progression.
Proficiency in Keyboard Skills may be demonstrated by
1) Completing and/or repeating Mus 181 (Basic Keyboard Skills) until the above skills have been demonstrated competently OR
2) Meeting with Mr. Best and demonstrating competency in the above skills.
Music Technology
1. Music notation software: prepare a rehearsal-ready score and parts using Finale, Sibelius, or MuseScore.
2. Audio recording and digital distribution: record yourself or someone else singing or playing an instrument, and make this publicly available online (e.g., on SoundCloud or YouTube).
Proficiency in music notation software may be demonstrated by:
1) Completing Mus 368 (Seminar in Musical Composition) with a grade of B or higher OR
2) Meeting with Prof. Carter and demonstrating competency in the above skills.
Proficiency in audio recording and digital distribution may be demonstrated by:
1) Completing Mus 270 (Introduction to Music, Sound, and Technology) with a grade of B or higher OR
2) Meeting with Prof. Carter and demonstrating competency in the above skills.
In addition to these courses, resources for learning music technology skills are offered through Lynda courses and Burkeshops. Contact Ben Salzman for details.