The technique portion includes three (3) components: 

Each question is worth 10 points for a total of 100 points. Score 70% or more to pass the Technique portion.

1. Technical Skills (rev. 2025, ALL LEVELS, see Exam Materials) 

• required to be performed from memory at all levels.

• Metronome markings in the syllabus indicate the minimum required tempo.

2. Technical Study/Etude

• not required to be memorized.

• not required for primer level. 

• The technical piece(s) submitted for the Technique Section may NOT be used as a repertoire selection. All pieces—four repertoire selections and the technical piece(s) —must be different. Duplicate submissions will not satisfy the examination requirements. (updated 2025)

• For Levels 1 - 7 technical piece(s) is required to consist of at least 16 measures and be performed hands together.

  • • Shorter studies may be combined to meet the measure requirement (e.g., two 8-measure exercises from A Dozen a Day).

    • Please note: Exercises from Junior Hanon and Fingerpower are typically 15 measures and must be adjusted to qualify.

    • For Levels 8-10, please select one from the required etude list. (rev. 2025, see Exam Materials)

3. Sight Reading (Level 3-10, see Exam Materials)

• required for Levels 3 through10. 

• Students will have 60 to 90 seconds to study the score before performing the excerpt for the examiner.

Levels 1 and 2

• • • Students must perform four(4) pieces,  with at least two (2) memorized. Each piece is worth 25 points for a total of 100 points.

    • Method book repertoire guidelines for Musicianship Examination (Updated 2025)

      • • • Level 1:Piece selections should correspond to the difficulty level of Faber Piano Adventures Method Books 2A, 2B and 3A.

          • Level 2: Piece selections should correspond to the difficulty level of Faber Piano Adventures Method Books 3A, 3B and above.

    • Only one piece memorized will result in a 25-point deduction.  No pieces memorized will result in a 50-point deduction. 

    • Each piece must be at least sixteen (16) measures long and performed with both hands.

    • Please note that the technical piece(s) submitted for the Technique Section may NOT be used as a repertoire selection. All pieces—four repertoire selections and the technical piece(s) —must be different. Duplicate submissions will not satisfy the examination requirements. (updated 2025)

Levels 3 ~ 7

• • • Students must perform four (4) pieces,  with at least two (2) memorized.

    • Only one piece memorized will result in a 25-point deduction.  No pieces memorized will result in a 50-point deduction. 

    • One piece from the following musical periods. Duplicate periods are not permitted.

      • • • Baroque

          • Classical

          • Romantic

          • Contemporary

    • Selections must consist of original compositions. Arrangements or simplified editions are not permitted.

    • Please note that the technical piece(s) submitted for the Technique Section may NOT be used as a repertoire selection. All pieces—four repertoire selections and the technical piece(s) —must be different. Duplicate submissions will not satisfy the examination requirements. (updated 2025)

Levels 8 ~ 10

• • • Student must perform four (4) pieces, with each piece representing a different musical period. Duplicate periods are not permitted. 

    • Selections must consist of original compositions. Arrangements or simplified editions are not permitted.

    • Please note that the etude(s)/study(studies) submitted for the Technique Section may NOT be used as a repertoire selection. All pieces—four repertoire selections and the technical piece(s) —must be different. Duplicate submissions will not satisfy the examination requirements. (updated 2025)

    • Memorization Requirement: 

      • • • a minimum of two (2) pieces.

          • Memorized selections do not need to be among the required repertoires.

          • Only one piece memorized will result in a 25-point deduction.  No pieces memorized will result in a 50-point deduction. 

REQUIRED PIECES Requirement

• • • At least two (2) pieces must be selected from the Required Pieces List (see Exam Materials), covering the following musical periods.

      • • • Baroque

          • Classical

          • Romantic

    • If a required piece does not meet the specified criteria, a score of 0% will be assigned. Adjudicators will still provide written comments.

Non- REQUIRED PIECES 

• • • The remaining selection(s) can be chosen from the following musical periods: 

*Teachers may use the composer categories as a reference when choosing repertoire.

• • • • • • Baroque

          • Classical

          • Romantic

          • Impressionistic and Post-Romantic

          • Contemporary

          • Modern