Slopes
The Ascent Tier 2, Levels 8-14
Slopes is Tier 2 of the Dennis Frayne Ascent and includes Ascent Levels 8–14. The requirements for each Level are listed below.
Slopes Level 1 (Ascent Level 8)
Dedicated to Louis Streabbog
Repertoire: Perform Distant Bells and Ta Ra Ra Boom-de-ay! from Presto! It’s Piano Magic, Book 2 on piano. Perform three additional selections on piano from Presto! It’s Piano Magic, Book 2 or Book 3. Complete the recital program with additional student-selected repertoire on any instrument.
Instruments: Piano and voice are required. An additional instrument is optional.
Technical Skills: Play the major scales in C, G, D, A, E, B, and F and the natural minor scales in A, E, G, D, C, B, and F on piano, hands together, two octaves, ascending and descending. For each major scale, play the I-IV-I cadence using common tones. For each minor scale, play the i-iv-i cadence using common tones. Sing a major scale and a natural minor scale, one octave ascending and descending, followed by the Do-Fa-Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major-mode and natural-minor-mode vocalises using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two written rhythms. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4 while counting subdivisions of two using eighth notes, subdivisions of three using triplets, and subdivisions of four using sixteenth notes. Perform one complete Solfege and Intervals Practice exercise from Presto! It’s Piano Magic, Book 2.
Project: Improvise a sung melody using the text “Cross Patch Lift the Latch.”
Performance: Present an 8–10-minute recital that includes at least 2 minutes total of singing, with both the student’s primary and secondary languages represented.
Slopes Level 2 (Ascent Level 9)
Dedicated to Albert Ellmenreich
Repertoire: Perform Albert Ellmenreich’s Spinning Song, Op. 14, No. 4, on piano. Perform two additional selections on piano from Presto! It’s Piano Magic, Book 3. Complete the recital program with additional student-selected repertoire on any instrument. Additional repertoire may include works by Louis Streabbog, Albert Ellmenreich, Friedrich Burgmüller, Stephen Heller, Robert Schumann, and other composers.
Instruments: Piano and voice are required. An additional instrument is optional.
Technical Skills: Play the major scales in C, G, D, A, E, B, and F and the natural minor scales in A, E, G, D, C, B, and F on piano, hands together, two octaves, ascending and descending. For each major scale, play the I-IV-I cadence using common tones. For each minor scale, play the i-iv-i cadence using common tones. Sing a major scale and a natural minor scale, one octave ascending and descending, followed by the Do-Fa-Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major-mode and natural-minor-mode vocalises using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two written rhythms. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4 while counting subdivisions of two using eighth notes, subdivisions of three using triplets, and subdivisions of four using sixteenth notes. Perform one complete Solfege and Intervals Practice exercise from Presto! It’s Piano Magic, Book 2.
Project:
Learn Silent Night on any instrument. Perform it in quadruple meter rather than triple meter, improvising the rhythm and embellishing the melody.
Play Distant Bells on piano transposed to D Major.
Performance: Present a 10–12-minute recital that includes at least 2 minutes total of singing, with both the student’s primary and secondary languages represented.
Slopes Level 3 (Ascent Level 10)
Dedicated to Friedrich Burgmüller
Repertoire: Perform six selections on piano from Friedrich Burgmüller’s 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100. Selections may include Arabesque, Ballade, Tarantelle, La chevaleresque, Ave Maria, Barcarolle, L’hirondelle, La chasse, or other selections from the collection. Complete the recital program with additional student-selected repertoire on any instrument. Additional repertoire may include works by Louis Streabbog, Albert Ellmenreich, Friedrich Burgmüller, Stephen Heller, Robert Schumann, and other composers.
Instruments: Piano and voice are required. An additional instrument is optional.
Technical Skills: Play the major scales in C, G, D, A, E, B, and F and the harmonic minor scales in A, E, G, D, C, B, and F on piano, hands together, two octaves, ascending and descending. For each major scale, play the I-IV-V-I cadence using common tones. For each minor scale, play the i-iv-V-i cadence using common tones. Play a chromatic scale on piano, hands together, one octave ascending and descending. Sing a major scale and a harmonic minor scale, one octave ascending and descending, followed by the Do-Fa-So-Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major-mode and natural-minor-mode vocalises using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two written rhythms. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4 while counting subdivisions of two using eighth notes, subdivisions of three using triplets, and subdivisions of four using sixteenth notes. Perform one complete Solfege and Intervals Practice exercise from Presto! It’s Piano Magic, Book 2. Sing the chromatic scale ascending and descending on solfege.
Project: Improvise a movement or dance to Burgmüller’s Tarantelle, optionally using accessories such as scarves or handheld percussion instruments, with live or recorded music.
Performance: Present a 12–15-minute recital that includes at least 2 minutes total of singing, with both the student’s primary and secondary languages represented.
Slopes Level 4 (Ascent Level 11)
Dedicated to Anna Magdalena Bach
Repertoire: Perform six selections on piano from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. Selections may include Minuet, BWV Anh. 114; Minuet, BWV Anh. 115; Minuet, BWV Anh. 116; March, BWV Anh. 122; Musette, BWV Anh. 126; the chorale Schaff’s mit mir, Gott, BWV 514; or other selections from the collection. Complete the recital program with additional student-selected repertoire on any instrument. Additional repertoire may include works by Louis Streabbog, Albert Ellmenreich, Friedrich Burgmüller, Stephen Heller, Robert Schumann, and selections from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach.
Instruments: Piano and voice are required. An additional instrument is optional.
Technical Skills: Play the major scales in C, G, D, A, E, B, and F and the harmonic and melodic minor scales in A, E, G, D, C, B, and F on piano, hands together, two octaves, ascending and descending. For each major scale, play the I-IV-I-V-V7-I cadence using common tones. For each minor scale, play the i-iv-i-V-V7-i cadence using common tones. For each listed major and minor scale, play the tonic triad in blocked and broken inversions, ascending and descending. Play a chromatic scale on piano, hands together, one octave ascending and descending. Sing a major scale, a harmonic minor scale, and a melodic minor scale, one octave ascending and descending, followed by the Do-Fa-Do-So-Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major-mode, harmonic-minor-mode, and melodic-minor-mode vocalises using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two written rhythms. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4 while counting subdivisions of two using eighth notes, subdivisions of three using triplets, and subdivisions of four using sixteenth notes. Perform one complete Solfege and Intervals Practice exercise from Presto! It’s Piano Magic, Book 2. Sing the chromatic scale ascending and descending on solfege. Sing major- and minor-mode triads in inversions, ascending and descending.
Project: Improvise a sung melody using the text “Brow Brinky Eye Winky.”
Performance: Present a 15–18-minute recital that includes at least 2 minutes total of singing, with both the student’s primary and secondary languages represented.
Slopes Level 5 (Ascent Level 12)
Dedicated to Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart
Repertoire: Perform six selections on piano from the Notebook for Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart. Selections may include No. 1, Menuett in C; No. 5, Menuett in F; No. 6, Menuett in F; No. 7, Menuett in D; No. 9, Menuett in A; No. 11, Menuett in F; No. 12, Menuett in A; No. 15, Menuett in E; or other selections from the collection. Complete the recital program with additional student-selected repertoire on any instrument. Additional repertoire may include works by Louis Streabbog, Albert Ellmenreich, Friedrich Burgmüller, Stephen Heller, Robert Schumann, selections from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, selections from the Notebook for Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart, and other repertoire.
Instruments: Piano and voice are required. An additional instrument is optional.
Technical Skills: Play the major scales in F, B-flat, E-flat, A-flat, D-flat or C-sharp, G-flat or F-sharp, and C-flat or B on piano, hands together, two octaves, ascending and descending. Play the natural minor scales in D, G, C, F, B-flat or A-sharp, E-flat or D-sharp, and A-flat or G-sharp on piano, hands together, two octaves, ascending and descending. For each major scale, play the I-IV-I-V-V7-I cadence using common tones. For each minor scale, play the i-iv-i-V-V7-i cadence using common tones. For each listed major and minor scale, play the tonic triad in blocked and broken inversions, ascending and descending. Play a chromatic scale on piano, hands together, two octaves ascending and descending. Sing a major scale and natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales, one octave ascending and descending, followed by the Do-Fa-Do-So-Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major-mode, harmonic-minor-mode, and melodic-minor-mode vocalises using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two written rhythms. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4 while counting subdivisions of two using eighth notes, subdivisions of three using triplets, and subdivisions of four using sixteenth notes. Perform one complete Solfege and Intervals Practice exercise from Presto! It’s Piano Magic, Book 2. Sing the chromatic scale ascending and descending on solfege. Sing major- and minor-mode triads in inversions, ascending and descending.
Project: Improvise a melody on any instrument over an accompaniment using an I-IV-I-V-I ostinato.
Performance: Present a 15–18-minute recital that includes at least 2 minutes total of singing, with both the student’s primary and secondary languages represented.
Slopes Level 6 (Ascent Level 13)
Dedicated to Stephen Heller
Repertoire: Perform the following three works by Stephen Heller on piano: L’Avalanche, Barcarolle (Gondola Song), and Curious Story. Complete the recital program with additional student-selected repertoire on any instrument. Additional repertoire may include other works by Stephen Heller, with Notenbuch für Klein und Gross, Op. 138, suggested as a source, as well as works by Louis Streabbog, Albert Ellmenreich, Friedrich Burgmüller, Robert Schumann, selections from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, selections from the Notebook for Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart, and other repertoire.
Instruments: Piano and voice are required. An additional instrument is optional.
Technical Skills: Play the major scales in F, B-flat, E-flat, A-flat, D-flat or C-sharp, G-flat or F-sharp, and C-flat or B on piano, hands together, two octaves, ascending and descending. Play the natural minor scales in D, G, C, F, B-flat or A-sharp, E-flat or D-sharp, and A-flat or G-sharp on piano, hands together, two octaves, ascending and descending. For each major scale, play the I-IV-I-V-V7-I cadence using common tones. For each minor scale, play the i-iv-i-V-V7-i cadence using common tones. For each listed major and minor scale, play the tonic triad in blocked and broken inversions, ascending and descending. Play a chromatic scale on piano, hands together, two octaves ascending and descending. Sing a major scale and natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales, one octave ascending and descending, followed by the Do-Fa-Do-So-Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major-mode, harmonic-minor-mode, and melodic-minor-mode vocalises using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two written rhythms. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4 while counting subdivisions of two using eighth notes, subdivisions of three using triplets, and subdivisions of four using sixteenth notes. Perform one complete Solfege and Intervals Practice exercise from Presto! It’s Piano Magic, Book 2. Sing the chromatic scale ascending and descending on solfege. Sing major- and minor-mode triads in inversions, ascending and descending.
Project: Improvise a movement or dance to Stephen Heller’s Barcarolle, Op. 138, No. 5, optionally using accessories such as scarves or handheld percussion instruments, with live or recorded music.
Performance: Present a 15–18-minute recital that includes at least 2 minutes total of singing, with both the student’s primary and secondary languages represented.
Slopes Level 7 (Ascent Level 14)
Dedicated to Robert Schumann
Repertoire: Perform four selections on piano from Robert Schumann’s Album for the Young, Op. 68. Selections may include Soldiers’ March, The Happy Farmer, The Wild Rider, Sicilienne, or other selections from the collection. Complete the recital program with additional student-selected repertoire on any instrument. Additional repertoire may include works by Louis Streabbog, Albert Ellmenreich, Friedrich Burgmüller, Stephen Heller, Robert Schumann, selections from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, selections from the Notebook for Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart, and other repertoire.
Instruments: Piano and voice are required. An additional instrument is optional.
Technical Skills: Play all major scales and all natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales on piano, hands together, ascending and descending, first over three octaves in a triplet-like rhythm and then over four octaves in a sixteenth-note rhythm. For each major scale, play the I-IV-I-ii-V-V7-I cadence using common tones. For each minor scale, play the i-iv-i-ii°-V-V7-i cadence using common tones. For each major and minor scale, play the tonic triad in blocked and broken inversions, ascending and descending. Play a chromatic scale on piano, hands together, ascending and descending, first over three octaves in a triplet-like rhythm and then over four octaves in a sixteenth-note rhythm. Sing a major scale and natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales, one octave ascending and descending, followed by the Do-Fa-Do-Re-So-Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major-mode, harmonic-minor-mode, and melodic-minor-mode vocalises using movable-Do solfege and again using scale-degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two written rhythms. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4 while counting subdivisions of two using eighth notes, subdivisions of three using triplets, and subdivisions of four using sixteenth notes. Perform one complete Solfege and Intervals Practice exercise from Presto! It’s Piano Magic, Book 2. Sing the chromatic scale ascending and descending on solfege. Sing major- and minor-mode triads in inversions, ascending and descending.
Project: Arrange a public-domain folk song or nursery rhyme for beginner piano and voice. Perform the arrangement in the recital, playing the piano part and singing the vocal part.
Performance: Present an 18–20-minute recital that includes at least 2 minutes total of singing, with both the student’s primary and secondary languages represented.