Keyboard Proficiency

Requirements for Music Majors

All music majors at St. Olaf College are required to complete keyboard proficiency.

The requirements vary by major, as seen below:

B.A. Music – Proficiency, Level 2
B.M. Composition – Proficiency, Level 4
B.M. Church Music (Choral) – Proficiency, Level 4
B.M. Church Music (Organ) – MUSIC 270 with a minimum grade of B-
B.M. Music Education (Instrumental) – Proficiency, Level 3
B.M. Music Education (Vocal) – Proficiency, Level 4
B.M. Performance (Brass, Percussion, Woodwind) – Proficiency, Level 3
B.M. Performance (Organ or Piano) – MUSIC 270 with a minimum grade of B-
B.M. Performance (Voice) – Proficiency, Level 4
B.M. With Elective Studies in Another Discipline – Proficiency, Level 3

You will find a description of each proficiency level and a link to the requirements to pass the level off to the right.

Students are encouraged to provide the adjudicating keyboard faculty member with a minimum of two weeks notice prior to taking any level of the St. Olaf keyboard proficiency exam.  The entire exam must be taken at the first assessment meeting unless specific accommodations have been provided by DAC.  Once the complete exam has been taken, any section(s) deemed ‘non-proficient’ will require additional testing, with a minimum of two weeks allotted for additional preparation before any subsequent test is given.  Students are encouraged to plan ahead, as sufficient preparation time must be available for re-tests prior to graduation.