Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music
MUAP
1105‐003: Class Piano Level I Fall 2026 Syllabus
Course website: https://umclasspiano.com
Meets: TR 9:40 – 10:35 in MU 202
Instructor: Dr. Kevin Richmond
Office Hours: Tuesdays 11:00 – 1:00 and by appointment
E-mail: kdrchmnd@memphis.edu Office: MU 231
COURSE DESCRIPTION
MUAP 1105 is a beginning
keyboard skills course. Topics are based on major and minor white-key scales,
diatonic triads and dominant seventh chords with some inversions. Styles
include baroque through contemporary art music, folk and popular tunes,
and blues.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The design of the course
focuses on developing keyboard skills for students to function as competent and
confident musicians. Various activities provide opportunities for discerning
style and genre and approaching the musical arts creatively and with the
highest standards.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Course
materials are available in the U of M Canvas portal.
CLASSROOM CONDUCT
This course requires your
active participation. Questions and discussion are welcome and encouraged. Any
classroom distractions or disruptions are unacceptable. Please arrive on time
with cell phones and any other electronic devices out of sight. There is
absolutely no food or drink allowed in the piano lab.
PRACTICE
You must commit 20-30
minutes a day at the keyboard. Satisfactory progress requires this commitment.
Each class meeting includes new skills and concepts based on the assumption
that the prior material has been prepared. This is a skill-development course
and will not suffice understanding the material intellectually. You must train
your hands, ears, and eyes by doing!
GRADING POLICY
Your final course grade is
the average of three juries (90%) and your attendance grade (10%). You can only
advance to MUAP 1106 with a final course grade of C- or better.
JURIES
Juries take place in the
piano lab. Each jury consists of seven components (harmonization,
improvisation, keyboard theory, repertoire, sight reading, technique and
transposition) and you receive a grade for each component. Each jury is a
12-minute individual appointment. If you arrive late or miss your scheduled
time, you will receive an F for each category missed. Juries I and II are held
during regular class time. Jury III is scheduled during the final examination
period for this course as published in the official course schedule! Plan
accordingly.
ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance in
class is expected. Meetings occur only two hours per week and include pertinent
information regarding skills and assignments. 10% of your grade is based on
attendance and calculated as follows:
|
Absences |
0/1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
>6 |
|
Grade |
A+ |
A |
A- |
B |
C |
D |
F |
ASSISTANCE
Please
do not hesitate to see me if you have concerns or questions. Your questions are welcome and I am happy to
help. Getting help early can facilitate a successful semester. Visit me during
my office hours or sign up for an appointment in any open space on my schedule.
You can find it posted weekly on my office door.
IMPORTANT DATES
Jury I: September 22/24
(during regular class time)
Jury II: October 27/29 (during
regular class time)
Jury III: Tuesday, December 8; 10:30am – 12:30pm