Arizona
State University School of Music
Applied
Piano Study
Course
Syllabus
MUP 111,
311, 511, 127, 327, 527, 727, 121, 321, 521
Professor: Walter
Cosand (Walter.Cosand@asu.edu, W-254)
All students will need to attend studio classes
and keyboard area recitals. The
studio classes afford each student valuable performance opportunities
throughout the semester. In
addition, discussion will be encouraged on the following topics: Performance
practice and style, technical solutions for common problems, sound production,
repertoire and style difference between different renowned pianists. Students will be encouraged to express
their opinions on these matters and provide constructive criticism for their
fellow performers.
Studio classes generally occur during the 11:50 AM Monday hour
but may vary by instructor. Each student should check with the assigned studio
teacher for the specific studio class schedule of that teacher each
semester.
Students at the 127, 327, 527 and 727 levels are required to
perform their entire repertoire for the semester at least once in studio
classes. Students at the 121, 321,
521, 111, 311 levels are required to perform their assigned jury pieces for the
semester at least once during studio.
Recitals and Master Classes
attendance requirement:
1. Students must attend all studio classes and Keyboard Area Recitals as
announced (3 or 4 times per semester, Mondays 11:50 AM-12:50 PM). Keyboard Area Recitals feature
pianists who have been selected by their studio teachers to perform for all
keyboard students.
2. Students must attend School of Music Showcase Recitals as announced (twice
per semester, Wednesdays at 11:50 AM-12:50 PM)
3. Students are required to attend Guest Artist Solo Piano Recitals.
4. Students are encouraged to attend piano master class at days and times
announced. Students may be excused from the master classes only in case of
illness or if they have a conflict with a class they are taking or teaching
during that time.
Students will schedule lessons with their individual instructor.
Students will need to acquire their own copies of the music they
play. In addition, students will
need to research the pieces and demonstrate knowledge of:
1.
dates of composition, including other pieces written by
the composer during the same time period; knowledge of pieces written by other
composers during the same time period.
2.
a wide range of recordings of the pieces they play,
accompanied by the ability to discuss differences of interpretation,
articulation, tempo, and sound.
The final grade for each semester shall be a composite of the
studio grade, awarded by the studio teacher, and the jury grade, awarded by the
faculty present at semester juries. In cases where a student is giving a degree
recital during the semester, the recital grade will replace jury grade.
The studio grade will count 40% of the final semester grade, and
the jury or recital grade 40% as well. Studio, recital and master class
attendance will be the other 20%.
The grading scale is as follows: 97-100=A+
94-96= A
90-93=A-
87-89=B+
84-86=
B
80-83=B-
77-79=C+
74-77=C
70-73=C-
The deadline for course
withdrawal is April 1, 2018.
General: This course earns two credit hours with one fifty-minute
lesson per week and is typically taken for the first two years of study
(Freshman-Sophomore). Students must
have selected piano as their performing medium, but are not performance majors. Admission to MUP 111 is by audition
only. Students transferring from other institutions enter at MUP 111 regardless
of prior study. Students apply for advancement to MUP 311 upon decision of
their studio instructor.
Objectives: Work is necessary on such topics as: developing a
comfortable pianistic approach to the instrument, sound production, and
developing an understanding of stylistic periods. Continuous work is done to develop the
studentŐs ability to work independently and to improve all aspects of piano
playing and musicianship.
Repertoire: Students will need to cover repertoire ranging from the
Baroque to the present era.
Students will study compositions from standard repertoire, such as: Bach
Inventions, and Preludes and Fugues from the Well-Tempered Clavier;
Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven sonatas; Chopin, Schumann, and Debussy character
pieces; and Bartok Mikrokosmos, Vols. IV-VI.
Requirements: Each student will perform a final jury examination of ten
minutes in length which consists of memorized works agreed upon with the
instructor, representing at least three different style periods. Students are expected to do a minimum of
two hours of practice per day, although more is strongly encouraged.
General: This course earns two credit hours with one fifty-minute
lesson per week. This course is offered for students who are in their
Junior-Senior years, and have selected piano as their performing medium, but
are not performance majors.
Advancement from MUP 111 to MUP 311 is not automatic. Admission to
MUP 311 takes place at a barrier jury examination heard by the piano faculty,
normally after four semesters of MUP 111. At this time the faculty decides
whether or not the student has arrived at the appropriate level for the degree.
The student may be admitted to MUP 311, or if the faculty deems that the
student has not arrived at that level, advancement to MUP 311 may be delayed or
the student may be advised to pursue another major.
Objectives: Students are expected to have achieved a higher level of
technical and musical performance than MUP 111. Emphasis will be given to the
topics of interpretation, style, expanding repertoire, and the preparation of
the student for a half recital (where this is required by the specific degree,
such as Music Education). Students will be taught to
develop practice habits that will produce a confident performance.
Repertoire: Students will need to cover repertoire ranging from the
Baroque to the late 20th century, but more advanced pieces than MUP 111.
Requirements: Each student will perform a final jury examinations of
ten minutes in length and consisting of memorized works agreed upon with the
instructor representing three or four different style periods. Students are expected to do a minimum of
two hours of practice per day, although more is strongly encouraged.
General: This course earns two credit hours with one fifty-minute
lesson per week. It is offered for graduate students in the keyboard area
(usually for students who have completed the MUP 311 studio lesson requirement
for their degree, or are preparing a 527 audition), graduate students in
composition and music theatre direction, and graduate students in the
interdisciplinary humanities program. Admittance is by audition only. The final
jury examinations are ten minutes in length and consist of memorized works
agreed upon with the studentŐs instructor.
General: This course earns four credit hours with one
fifty-minute lesson per week. It is a course for students who have been
admitted by audition into the performance or piano accompanying degrees. This
course is offered for students who are in their Freshman-Sophomore years.
Objectives: Although students who were admitted into MUP 127 are
expected to have achieved a high level of facility and musicianship, some work
is necessary on such topics as: developing a more comfortable pianistic
approach to the instrument, sound production, and the understanding of
style. Students will be taught how
to develop practice habits that will produce a confident performance.
Repertoire: Pieces from the baroque period to late 20th
century. In addition, the repertoire selected will include pieces that are
presumed standardized in the international concert and competition scene in
order to prepare the student for a performance career or for advanced graduate
study. Repertoire will include:
Etudes: Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, etc.
Concertos: Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Schumann, Chopin,
Grieg, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, etc.
Sonatas: Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, etc.
Requirements: The final
jury examinations are twenty minutes in length and consist of memorized works
agreed upon with the instructor representing three or four different style
periods. Students in the 127 series of applied study are expected to
do a minimum of three to four hours of practice per day, although more is
strongly encouraged.
General: This course earns four credit hours with one
fifty-minute lesson per week. It is offered for students who are in their
Junior-Senior years. Advancement from MUP 127 to MUP 327 is not automatic.
Admission to MUP 327 takes place at a barrier jury examination heard by the
piano faculty, normally after four semesters of MUP 127. At this time the
faculty decides whether or not the student has attained the proficiency to
perform a junior recital in the following year. If the faculty deems that the
student has not arrived at that level, advancement to MUP 327 may be delayed or
the student may be advised to pursue another major.
Objectives: Students at this level are expected to have achieved a
high level of facility and musicianship. Emphasis on quick memorization of
repertoire, physical ease in performance, and--while respecting the composers'
wishes--development of maximum variety and spontaneity of expressive style.
Emphasis will also be given to the topics of interpretation and preparation of
the student for a polished performance in the required degree recitals.
Repertoire: Selection will include pieces from the baroque period to
the late 20th century of more difficulty than MUP 127. As in MUP 127, the
repertoire selected will also include continuous work on pieces that are
presumed standardized on the international concert and competition scene.
Emphasis will be given to big solo and concerti works from the 19th and 20th
century (i.e. sonatas or other substantial works by Chopin, Schumann, Brahms,
Rachmaninoff, Prokofieff, Scriabin, etc.) Students will also be encouraged to
prepare a substantial contemporary work.
Requirements: The final jury examinations are twenty minutes in length
and consist of memorized works agreed upon with the instructor representing
three or four different style periods. Students are required to give a total of
two recitals: a 45-minute recital in Junior year and a full recital in Senior
year. Students in the 327 series of applied study are expected to do a minimum
of three to four hours of practice per day, although more is strongly
encouraged.
General: Students admitted to this course are pursuing a master
of music degree in Performance or Performance/Pedagogy.
Objectives: In some cases, work on any areas of weaknesses will need
to be addressed by the instructor. Emphasis will be given to the understanding
of the relationships between articulation, rhythm, and interpretation, and to
the development of confident, refined performance.
Repertoire: Although the repertoire studied will include pieces from
the Baroque period to the late 20th century, the selection of the material will
be determined individually for each student according to his/her concentration
desires. Repertoire will generally consist of substantial solo works, concerti,
and contemporary works. Emphasis will be given to the topics of interpretation
and the preparation of the student for polished musical performances on degree
recitals.
Requirements: Students will perform one (Performance/Pedagogy) or two
(Performance) solo recitals representing a high level of artistic
interpretation, and demonstrating considerable difficulty of repertoire. The
final jury examinations are twenty minutes in length and consist of
presentations by memory of works agreed upon with the instructor. Students in the 527 series of applied
study are expected to do four to six hours of practice per day.
General: Students admitted to this course are pursuing a Doctor
of Musical Arts degree in Solo Performance or Solo Performance/Pedagogy. This level of performance is expected to
lead to a career in college or university teaching.
Objectives: Students admitted to this course of study are expected
to possess the highest artistic and technical command of the instrument. Students will be encouraged to take part
in various national and international performance venues, conferences, and
music festivals. Emphasis will be
given to stylistic approach and interpretation. Students are expected to
perform polished individual performances on their degree recitals.
Repertoire: Students are expected to program the recitals largely
according to their own concentration desires. However, the instructor will act as a
mentor in advising the student on repertoire suitable to the studentŐs career
goals, strengths, doctoral project, and breadth of performance repertoire
necessary for future academic positions.
Requirements: Students will perform three required solo recitals (Performance) or
one solo and one lecture recital (Performance/Pedagogy emphasis). One jury
examination of 45 minutes consisting of memorized works agreed upon with
instructor will be taken at the end of the first year of study and serve as
recitals-permission for the degree program. Students failing to pass this exam
will be allowed to take it only once more during the following semester.
Students in the 727 series of applied study are expected to practice daily
appropriate to artist-level performance.
This course is a one credit hour course, with a 25-minute lesson a
week. Limited spaces will be
designated each semester by audition only, and priority will be given to
students with extensive prior piano study, or those who have waived and/or
completed all class piano requirements for their degree. Students will usually
be placed with teaching assistants, or occasionally with faculty members. No
jury is required. Grades will be based on completing assigned work, progress,
and participation in studio classes.
Special
Accommodations
To request academic
accommodations due to a disability please contact the ASU Disability Resource
Center (Phone: (480) 965-1234; TDD: (480) 965-9000). This is a very important
step, as accommodations cannot be made retroactively. If you have a
letter from their office indicating that you have a disability which requires
academic accommodations, please present the letter to me no later than the end
of the first week of the semester so that your needs can be addressed effectively.
Academic
Dishonesty
All necessary and
appropriate sanctions will be issued to all parties involved with plagiarizing
any and all course work. Plagiarism and any other form of academic dishonesty
that is in violation with the Student Code of Conduct will not be tolerated.
For more information, please see the ASU Student Academic Integrity Policy.https://provost.asu.edu/sites/default/files/AcademicIntegrityPolicyPDF.pdf
Use
of Media During Lessons, Classes and Recitals
Out of respect for
your peers and the instructors, cell phones must be turned off or to the silent
mode during class. It is inappropriate to answer calls during class time. If
you choose to take notes or look at course materials using a laptop, please be
professional and refrain from emailing or doing other non-class work. You are
responsible for the safety of any media or equipment.
Requirements
Specifically for Students of Mr. Cosand:
Studio Classes
All of Mr. Cosand's students will be required to attend and to participate in studio classes at 11:50 AM on Fridays. This is in addition to all Monday Keyboard Area Recital, Guest Recital and Guest Master Class attendance requirements.
Downloadable
Repertoire
Please notice that my website offers a library of free
digital music. http://www.waltercosand.com/CosandScores
Attendance
I try to give each student
an individual grade each week, as well as a grade for any recital or for each
other performance. If you are absent without a good reason you are not given a
good grade.
Problems?
See me about problems with this course. My office hours are
posted at http://www.waltercosand.com/office-hours.html
I can be reached by phone or by e-mail.