Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Class Piano I (Face-to-Face)

MUSC 1150-02

Course: MUSC 1150-02
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Music
CRN: 30860

Course Description

A course to familiarize students with the fundamentals of piano playing, keyboard theory, and interpretation. Prepares music majors for the piano proficiency examination. Registration Restriction: Music Major, Minor or BFA Theater - Musical Theater majors only.

Required Texts

  • Alfred’s Group Piano For Adults (2nd ed.) by E.L. Lancaster and Kenon D. Renfrow 

Learning Outcomes

Music 1150, Beginning Piano, focuses on basic techniques of piano performance. The purpose of the class is to prepare the Music Major, Music Minor, or Musical Theater Major to pass the Keyboard/Piano Proficiency Exam by the end of the Spring Semester. A student who is more skilled at the keyboard may move at their own pace and perhaps complete the exam before that time. In this course, students will study music theory, chord theory, technique, sight reading, transposition and improvisation.


Course Requirements

Grading
The grade breakdown for the course is as follows:
  • Piano Proficiency Checklist: 120 points
  • Attendance: 120 points
  • Recording Assignments: 120 points
    • First Recording Assignment: 60 points
    • Second Recording Assignment: 60 points
Total: 360 points

Piano Proficiency Checklist — 120 points
Students will be assessed throughout the semester using the Piano Proficiency Checklist. The material covered in this course will represent approximately half of the requirements needed to complete the full Piano Proficiency Exam for the academic year. Students are expected to make consistent progress toward mastering each skill on the checklist.

Attendance — 120 points
Attendance is worth 5 points for each class session. Regular attendance and participation are essential for developing the keyboard skills required for piano proficiency.

Recording Assignments — 120 points
Students will complete two recording assignments during the semester. Each assignment is worth 60 points.
For each assignment, students will select four repertoire pieces from the textbook, Alfred's Group Piano for Adults (2nd ed.), or from supplementary repertoire provided by the instructor through Canvas.
The selected pieces:
  • Must be actual repertoire pieces from the textbook or approved supplementary material.
  • May not be sight-reading exercises or other sight-reading examples.
  • Should be selected early enough in the semester to allow adequate time for preparation and practice.

Course Outline

First Recording Assignment — 60 points
September 16: Students must submit the names of their four selected songs to Canvas. This song-selection submission is worth 10 points.
October 18: The completed recording assignment is due and must be uploaded to Canvas. The recording itself is worth 50 points.

Second Recording Assignment — 60 points
For the second recording assignment, students must select four repertoire pieces from material after Unit 5 in the textbook or from approved supplementary repertoire provided by the instructor.
November 4: Students must submit their four selected songs to Canvas. This song-selection submission is worth 10 points.
December 17: The completed second recording assignment is due. The recording itself is worth 50 points.

Recording Assignment Grading
These assignments are designed to demonstrate a student's level of preparation and practice, not perfection. The goal is to encourage consistent practice, progress, and mastery of the assigned repertoire.
Each song will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
  • Completion: (All four songs are there; both hands are played; no parts of the song are missing): 20 points
  • Artistic Expression (Pedaling; dynamics; other artistic directions are followed): 15 points
  • Fluency (Correct notes and note values; confident; hesitations are at a minimum; It’s at an appropriate speed): 15 points
The scores for the four songs will be averaged to determine the recording portion of the assignment grade. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work


Make Up Policy and Late Work: 
Assignments submitted to Canvas after the due date will be docked 10% the first week after the due date. Any assignments more than a week late will be docked 40% off the original score. Missed attendance points can be made up by recording a song of their choice and emailing it to the instructor (up to 10 points)


Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy 
  • Attendance and punctuality are required at all class sessions. 
  • A missed class will only be excused at the discretion of the instructor or department. 
  • Proof of acceptable excused absences (such as a doctor’s note) may be required. 
  • Attendance will be graded - 5 attendance points for each day of the semester. 

Tardiness Policy: Students must arrive on time for classes. Late entrances are disruptive and hinder the flow of the class. Students who arrive late to class by 5 or more minutes after the hour will be administered a “tardy”. THREE (3) instances of a tardy will count as ONE (1) unexcused absence.



ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.