The UME Piano Syllabus

 

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Junior Exam | 2 Pieces

2 set pieces (free download below)

 
 
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Technical Work

  • RH Pentascale and LH Chords ‘I, IV, V (or V7) I’ in the key of one set piece

 

General Knowledge

From one set piece, students point to and name basic elements from the score (see detailed PDF)

 

Essential Skills

None required for the Junior Exam

 

 

Junior Plus | 3 Pieces

3 set pieces

or

2 set pieces and 1 free choice piece
(at a similar level to the set pieces).

 
 

Technical Work

  • Scale Hands Separately, One octave in the key of the set piece, with chord progression ‘I,IV, V (or V7) I’ at the end

  • C Major Contrary motion scale, 1 octave

  • Free Choice Scale Hands Separately, one or two octaves

 

General Knowledge

From the set piece, students point to, name & briefly explain basic elements from the score (see detailed PDF)

 

Essential Skills

Choose Either:

  • ‘Quick Study’ - single line treble clef 4 bar piece

Or

  • ‘Improvisation’ - LH Chord Pattern in quadruple time

 

 

Preliminary | 3 Pieces

1 set piece

AND

2 free choice pieces
(at a similar level to the set piece)

Please Note: Pieces may not all be in the same key – at least 2 different keys or tonalities must be represented

 
 
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Technical Work

  • 1 or 2 octave scale in the key of the Set Piece. Hands separately or 2H in similar motion

  • I or 2 octave scale in the key of a free choice piece. Hands separately or 2H in similar motion

  • Contrary motion scale: 1 octave in the key of one of the Free Choice Pieces

  • Free Choice Scale – in any key or form.

 
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General Knowledge

From any piece presented for the exam, students point to, name and briefly explain select elements from the score (see detailed PDF).

 
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Essential Skills

Choose Either:

  • ‘Quick Study’ Grand Stave simple 2H 4 bar piece

Or

  • ‘Improvisation’ LH Chord Pattern:

Or

  • ‘Transposition’ RH major keys.

 

 

Grade 1 | 3 Pieces

1 set piece

AND

2 free choice pieces
(at a similar level to the set piece)

Please Note: Pieces may not all be in the same key – at least 2 different keys or tonalities must be represented

 
 

Technical Work

  • 2 octave scale 2H in similar motion in the key of the Set Piece

  • Contrary motion scale: 1 octave in the key of one of the Free Choice Pieces

  • Chromatic Scale: one octave hands separately beginning on any note

  • Free Choice Scale – in any key or form.

 

General Knowledge

From any piece presented for the exam, students point to, name and briefly explain elements from the score (see detailed PDF).

 

Essential Skills

Choose Either:

  • ‘Quick Study’ Grand Stave 2H 4 bar piece C, G or F major

Or

  • ‘Improvisation’ Improvise a simple RH melody over a given 4 bar chord progression, quadruple time

Or

  • ‘Transposition’ RH Minor keys

 

 

Grade 2 | 3 Pieces

1 set piece

AND

2 free choice pieces
(at a similar level to the set piece)

Please Note: Pieces may not all be in the same key – at least 2 different keys or tonalities must be represented

 
 

Technical Work

  • 2 octave scale 2H, legato in similar motion in the key of the set piece

  • Contrary motion scale: 2 octaves in the key of one of the Free Choice Pieces

  • Chromatic Scale: 2 octaves hands together beginning on any note

  • 1 free Choice Scale – in any key or form.

 

General Knowledge

From any piece presented for the exam, students point to, name and briefly explain elements from the score (see detailed PDF)

 

Essential Skills

Choose Either:

  • ‘Quick Study’ Grand Stave 2H 8 bar piece in C, F or G major

Or

  • ‘Improvisation’ Improvise a simple RH melody over a given 4 bar chord progression.

Or

  • Transposition: LH Major keys

Or

  • Composition

 

 

Grade 3 | 3 Pieces

1 Set Piece

AND

2 free choice pieces
(from any source at grade 3 level)

 
 

Technical Work

  • 3 octave scale, legato, 2H similar motion in the key of the set piece

  • Contrary motion scale: 2 or 3 octaves in the key of a piece presented for the exam (not the same key as the similar motion scale)

  • Chromatic Scale: 3 octaves 2H beginning on any note

  • Arpeggio: 3 Octaves, ascending and descending. hands separately in any key

  • 1 free Choice Scale – in any key or form (3 octaves preferred)

 

General Knowledge

Using one of the pieces presented for the exam, students will point to, name & briefly explain elements from the score (see detailed PDF)

 

Essential Skills

Choose Either:

  • ‘Quick Study’ Grand Stave 2H 8 bar piece in A, D or E minor

Or

  • ‘Improvisation’ Improvise a simple RH melody over chords, 6 bars

Or

  • Transposition: LH Minor keys

Or

  • Composition

 

 

Grade 4 | 3 Pieces

1 set piece

AND

2 free choice pieces
(from any source at grade 4 level)

 
 

Technical Work

  • 4 octave scale, legato, 2H similar motion in the key of the set piece

  • Contrary motion scale: 2 or 3 octaves in the key of a free choice piece

  • Chromatic Scale: 4 octaves 2H beginning on any note

  • Arpeggio: 4 octaves, ascending and descending, hands separately in any key

  • 1 free Choice technical element (any key or mode, any form, 2H or separately)

 

General Knowledge

Using one of the pieces presented for the exam, students point to, name & briefly explain elements from the score (see detailed PDF)

 

Essential Skills

  • ‘Quick Study’ Grand Stave 2H 8 bar piece with basic dynamics and articulation

Or

  • ‘Improvisation’ Improvise a simple RH melody over chords. 8 bars, Quadruple time

Or

  • Transposition: 2 hands, Major keys.

Or

  • Composition

 

 

Grade 5 | 3 Pieces

3 free choice pieces
(from any source at grade 5 level)

A program of various styles is encouraged

 
 

Technical Work

  • 4 octave scale 2H similar motion, legato, in the key of any piece presented for the exam

  • Contrary motion scale: 2 or 3 octaves in the key of any piece presented for the exam (not the same key as the similar motion scale)

  • Chromatic Scale: 4 octaves 2H beginning on any note

  • Arpeggio: 4 octaves, ascending and descending, hands separately in any key

  • 1 free Choice technical element (any key or mode, any form, 2H or separately)

 

General Knowledge

Using 1 piece presented for the exam, students point to, name and briefly explain elements from the score (see details PDF)

 

Essential Skills

  • ‘Quick Study’ Grand Stave 2H 8 bar piece with dynamics and simple articulation. D major or A major.12

Or

  • ‘Improvisation’ Improvise a balanced RH melody over given chord progression, 8 bars

Or

  • Transposition: 2 hands, Minor keys.

Or

  • Composition

 

 

Grade 6 | 3 Pieces

3 free choice pieces
(from any source at grade 6 level)

A program of various styles is encouraged

 
 

Technical Work

  • 4 octave scale 2H similar motion, legato, in the key of any piece presented for the exam

  • Contrary motion scale: 2 or 3 octaves in the key of a piece presented for the exam (not the same key as the similar motion scale)

  • Chromatic Scale: 4 octaves 2H beginning on any note

  • Arpeggio: 4 octaves, ascending and descending, 2H in any key

  • Double Octave Scale: 1 octave, ascending and descending, staccato, 2H in any key

  • 1 free Choice technical element (any key or mode, any form, 2H or separately)

 

General Knowledge

Using 2 Pieces presented for the exam, students point to, name & briefly explain elements from the score (see detailed PDF)

 

Essential Skills

Choose Either:

  • ‘Quick Study’ Grand Stave 2H 8 bar piece with dynamics, articulation, possible 8va, repeats and other indications. Keys: F, G, D, A major and C, D, E, A minor.

Or

  • ‘Improvisation’ Improvise a simple RH melody over chords, 8 bars, Minor keys

Or

  • Transposition: 2 hands, Major keys, 8 bars

Or

  • Composition