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Prerequisite

You must have some interest in music, or you probably would not have signed up for this course. Besides a willingness to learn more, you do not need to have any natural talent or prior knowledge about the piano to take this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Play notes correctly on the keyboard by reading them on the musical staff.

  • Play rhythms correctly by reading them on the staff.

  • Identify and interpret musical symbols in your performances.

  • Exhibit hand and finger control, which allows you to play with two hands at once, while shifting positions on the keyboard and playing the correct notes and rhythms.

  • Demonstrate knowledge of basic music theory and how theory applies to playing the piano.

This is a beginning course, and the skills outlined by these outcomes will give you the confidence to learn even more and build a solid foundation as a musician. This is a great place to start.

Course Materials

Piano or keyboard

You’re going to need access to a piano or keyboard that you can play almost every day while you are taking this course. An actual piano is preferred.

If you choose to use a keyboard, look for one that has at least five octaves (sixty-one keys, including black and white). A piano has eighty-eight keys, but an electric keyboard that has less keys is acceptable (although not preferable).

Any video recording device that also captures audio

Every unit includes assignments that require you to play the piano. You will need to follow the Instructions to Upload Videos to upload your videos to an online storage site and obtain a sharable link.

In addition to improving the security of the recitals, videos also allow me to visually spot any problems (or perfection) that you may have.

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Assignments

Unit quizzes

This course has nine units that will each introduce new concepts about the piano as an instrument as well as introducing some necessary music theory concepts. Each unit is set up with clearly stated outcomes, and at the end of each lesson you will have the opportunity to check your understanding by answering the Self Check questions. At the end of most units, you will be required to complete a unit quiz. These quizzes will assess your ability to understand the concepts in each chapter. If you correctly answer the Self Check in each lesson, you should do well on the quizzes.

Recital assignments

Most units have several activites to turn in. See the specific assignment for assignment format and submission instructions. All songs to play can be found in the course resources tab (at the bottom of the course materials) inside Appendix A and Appendix B.

Exams

Once you have completed all nine units, there will be a final exam. This will not include any recordings of your playing. It will be a compilation of multiple-choice questions that are similar to those from the quizzes. The final exam will cover material from the entire course.

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Your course grade is comprised of the following:

  • 7 Unit Quizzes: These quizzes measure how well you grasp concepts, terms, and rules of music notation. Each quiz is worth 5 percent of your final course grade.

  • 6 Recording Assignments: These video assignments are carefully evaluated by the course instructor and allow you to demonstrate mastery of performance skills. You will receive specific comments and feedback on your progress. The six video assignments together account for 40% of your final course grade. See the table below for specific grade values for each assignment.

Grading

Your grade in this course will be based on these assignments and exams:

Assignment or Exam Grading Percent of Total Grade
7 Unit Quizzes Computer 35%
8 Recital Assignments Instructor 40%
1 Proctored Final Exam* Computer 25%

* You must pass the final exam with at least a 60% to earn credit for the course.

Grade Scale

Your letter grade is calculated according to these percentages.

A 93% - 100%
A- 90% - 92%
B+ 87% – 89%
B 83% - 86%
B- 80% - 82%
C+ 77% - 79%
C 73% - 76%
C- 70% - 72%
D+ 67% - 69%
D 63% - 66%
D- 60% - 62%
F (fail) 0% - 59%

Getting Help

Please use the help menu in this course to contact Academy of America or your instructor. You can find information about tutoring available to Academy of America students on the Tutoring website.

The Resources page offers a wide variety of services to support you:

  • Academic success skills coaching such as time management, study skills, test preparation, motivation, and more.

  • Course-specific support that includes live tutoring and on-demand resources.

Come find out how we can help you achieve your goals.

Course Policies

For information about how long you have to complete the course, resubmitting assignments, retaking exams, and other questions, please see Academy of America’s Policies.

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