Scale and Sight-Reading Proficiency Exams

The jazz area scale/sight-reading juries are proficiency exams that must be passed before a jazz area faculty member will sign the form permitting a studio music and jazz major to schedule a recital. The exams are given during the regular end of the semester juries in the fall and spring semesters.

Scale Proficiency Exam

Studio Music and Jazz Majors are required to take the scale proficiency exam each semester they are enrolled in applied music until they have passed level 1 and 2 of the scale portions of the exam. Levels 1 and 2 of the scale proficiency exam must be passed before a student can give a junior recital.

• Level 1:Two octave modes/scales to be played ascending and descending in straight 8th notes with metronome at 120 bpm: Major, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian, Chromatic.
• Level 2:Melodic Minor, Harmonic Minor, Diminished, Whole-tone, Blues, Augmented, Pentatonic. Full range major scale to be played ascending and desending in straight 8th notes with metronome at 120 bpm.

Grading of the scale proficiency is pass/fail. If a student is unsuccessful in playing a scale, a second attempt may be made. If a student fails to successfully play a scale after two attempts, the scale portion of the exam is failed.

Sight-Reading Proficiency Exam

Studio Music and Jazz Majors are required to take the sight-reading proficiency exam each semester they are enrolled in applied music, except during semesters when they are giving a recital. Levels 1 and 2 of the sight-reading jury must be passed to be eligible to perform a junior recital.

Applied teachers will bring sight-reading material written for their instrument. The reading example will be in line with real-life expectations. For example, guitarist and pianists will read chords symbols and rhythms as well as melodies, while saxophonists may read more chromatic linear material. Sight-reading examples must be played with a metronome or play-along track.

Grading of the sight-reading proficiency is pass/fail. If a student is unsuccessful in sight-reading the example, a second attempt may be made. If a student fails to successfully play an example after two attempts, the sight-reading portion of the exam is failed.