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Syllabus and Piano Studio Policies
MUSC 12601, 12642, 22601 - Elective Study - log on to Blackboard at the start of the semester for detailed resources
Instructor Info:
Prof. Linda Holzer, lrholzer@ualr.edu FA 101-D, Music Dept., 501.916.6483
Office Hour: M & W 10:00 – 11:00 or by appointment
Welcome to the Music program in the School of Literary and Performing Arts! Dr. Holzer's piano teaching studio/office is Fine Arts 101-D. Enter Fine Arts from the side entrance that faces Ottenheimer Library. Turn left immediately at the student lounge, you'll see faculty teaching studios on the far wall. (If you enter Fine Arts from the opposite end of the building, walk straight town the hallway and turn right at the student lounge.)
Piano study with Dr. Holzer will be comprised of the following:
Course Description
Private Piano Lessons: 14 weekly lessons per semester of 55 minutes duration. 2 credit hours. Study of piano technique, and repertoire drawn from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th and 21st-century stylistic periods, and popular contemporary musical styles.
The prerequisite for enrollment in private piano lessons MUPR for elective study is the ability to play at or above the level of difficulty of having earned a "B" or better in beginner Piano for Non-Majors, MUAP 15051. Familiarity with scales and key signatures, counting rhythms, and reading both treble and bass clef to play hands together is necessary.
Your weekly assignment is written in a Google Doc shared with you by the professor. Google Doc is a free app, and makes it possible for you to easily read your assignment from your phone or computer. (Yes, do make sure you read your assignment regularly so you know what to practice each week.)
Please download a blank schedule form. Fill in the times when you are not available for a lesson, and return to me as an email attachment, or print off in hard copy and place in my box. I will assign lesson times when I have received completed schedule forms from all of my students, and will notify students of their weekly lesson time prior to the first day of classes.
UALR General Education Outcomes
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
· perform a variety of solo piano music with appropriate technique and musicianship. The study of piano contributes to the appreciation of beauty and allows the student to explore creativity through artistic expression at the piano
Course Learning Objectives
At our first meeting in-person, the student's piano music reading and coordination are assessed. Based on the functional skill level demonstrated by the student, an assignment comprised of technique (scales, cadence chords, arpeggios, etude repertoire) and repertoire in different styles is created. Typically, the student will be working from multiple music books during the semester, including a scale book, an etude book, and several repertoire collections.
2. Together, the professor and the student select music for study, based on student interests and skill level. For subsequent lessons, the student is given weekly assignments to prepare, learning sections of pieces under tempo with the goal of finishing complete works up to tempo over a period of weeks (for longer repertoire) or learning new pieces (for shorter repertoire). The study of piano music is a developmental process over time, as familiarity with patterns and coordination develop through practicing. The student will demonstrate mastery of assigned technique and repertoire through performances in weekly lessons.
3. Piano technique with emphasis on pacing healthy development; injury prevention and cognitive development of students.
4. By the conclusion of the semester, the student will have completed numerous technique assignments and repertoire, and be able to perform keyboard music of varied musical styles, accurately realizing the composer's creative intentions.
Grading Scale:
A = 90-100%; B = 80-89%; C = 70-79%; D = 60-69%; F = below 60%
Further information also here https://ualr.edu/records/grades/
Non-degree-seeking students have the option to select "audit" for MUSC lessons, if they do not wish to receive a semester grade.
Grading Criteria:
The following criteria will be considered in determining semester grades for MUSC Piano Lessons:
1. quality of weekly lesson preparation - accuracy (in pitches, rhythms, fingering, etc.), and musicianship (phrasing, dynamics, pedalling, ornaments, etc.)
2. amount of new repertoire learned during the semester - the amount of new music you are expected to learn depends on the length of the pieces assigned, and their level of difficulty. In general, the student has a choice about selections assigned, and should expect to learn multiple works from multiple styles: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th and 21st-centuries, and contemporary musical styles.
3. regular lesson attendance
4. completion of assigned written work, when applicable
5. performance on semester exam - by the end of the semester, the student should have prepared several pieces to a high level of accuracy and musical expressiveness, and be able to perform them successfully at the last lesson.
A= superior work - meaning wrong notes, incorrect rhythms, fingering, etc. are extremely rare in the student's performance at lessons.
B = above average work
C = average work
D = passing work, below average
F = failing work
Required Materials:
Purchase copies of your assigned music. (Where to purchase will be explained at your first lesson.)
Metronome (app, wind-up or quartz model), lesson assignment folder (your weekly assignments are given either on the app Evernote, or printed hard copy).
PIANO-a tuned piano either in the UA Little Rock Music Dept. practice facilities or in your home. This may be an upright acoustic piano, a digital piano (preferably with 88 keys and weighted action), or a grand piano. See "Practice Requirements" below.
Fingernails: Properly trimmed fingernails are necessary for good hand position at the piano. Piano students should maintain trimmed fingernails at a length that allows them to touch the piano keys with their fingertips and rounded hand position, without clicking their nails.
Learning Activities
Piano Practice Requirement. Daily practice is recommended. All elective piano students are expected to practice at least 30 minutes each practice session at least 4 days per week. No excuses (see "REQUIRED MATERIALS" above). Be aware that the amount of practicing you do directly affects the quality of your work and the amount of repertoire you are able to learn in a semester, which in turn determines your semester grade.
Blackboard. Some course materials will be posted on Blackboard. Please check Blackboard during the first week of classes to familiarize yourself with the resources. Log on via MyUALR at https://blackboard.ualr.edu/ultra/institution-page to check. Primarily you will refer to Google Docs, however, for your weekly lesson assignment.
Course Policies
Lesson Attendance Policy:
Attendance is required. You are expected to observe your scheduled lesson time, and to provide advance notice via email or phone and sufficient cause in the event that you need to cancel or re-schedule a lesson. Unexcused absences will lower your grade because you are not demonstrating quality of weekly lesson preparation or meeting other grade criteria if you fail to attend your lesson.
Recommended Materials:
An online music dictionary, and the glossary in your assigned music. It's a good idea to look up unfamiliar terms the composer writes in the score. That helps you interpret the music expressively.
Sample online music dictionary
Points of Interest...
Classical Radio Station KLRE FM 90.5, Little Rock Public Radio
Classical Radio Station WFMT, Chicago
Classical Radio Station, KUSC, California
Helpful University Resources
Student Support Resources: Having trouble with class (or life!) and not sure where to find help? Start your search at https://ualr.edu/chasse/student-resources/
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