Ridge
The Ascent Tier 4, Levels 22-28
Ridge Level 1 (Ascent Level 22)
Dedicated to Edward MacDowell
Repertoire: To a Wild Rose from Woodland Sketches, plus additional selections of MacDowell’s works for any instrument or voice, for a minimum of 50% of recital duration. Play memorized. Any other repertoire, any instrument.
Instruments: Piano, voice, and 2nd instrument (required).
Technical Skill: All sharp major scales and the relative minor scales, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor, in contrary motion, hands together, two/four octaves, up and down, plus the cadence I-IV-I-ii-V-vi-ii-V-V7-I or i-iv-i-ii°-V-VI-ii°-V-V7-i using common tones. Play the tonic arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the dominant 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the diminished 7 arpeggios, each inversion, two octaves, up and down. Play a chromatic scale, three octaves and four octaves, up and down, hands together. Sing a major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scale one octave, up and down, plus the Do Fa Do Re So La Re So Do or Do Fa Do Re So Le Re So Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Play 3 minutes of technical skill exercises on any 2nd instrument.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor mode vocalises, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two rhythms as written. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4, while singing. Sing the chromatic scale up and down on solfege. Sing major and minor mode triads in inversions, up and down. Sing dominant 7 chord in inversions, up and down.
Project: Set to music Full fathom five thy father lies by William Shakespeare (from The Tempest) and perform in your recital.
Recital: 35-40 minutes, including minimum 4 minutes singing in primary and secondary language. 2nd instrument required.
Ridge Level 2 (Ascent Level 23)
Dedicated to Carrie Jacobs-Bond
Repertoire: Three or more Jacobs-Bond songs, collaborative with piano. Student can perform as singer, pianist, and/or alternate roles. Additional selections of parlor songs for piano, voice, and any other instrumentation. All singing must be memorized.
Instruments: Piano, voice, and 2nd instrument (required).
Technical Skill: All sharp major scales and the relative minor scales, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minorr, in contrary motion, hands together, two/four octaves, up and down, plus the cadence I-IV-I-ii-V-vi-ii-V-V7-I or i-iv-i-ii°-V-VI-ii°-V-V7-i using common tones. Play the tonic arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the dominant 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the diminished 7 arpeggios, each inversion, three octaves, up and down. Play a chromatic scale, three octaves and four octaves, up and down, hands together. Sing a major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scale one octave, up and down, plus the Do Fa Do Re So La Re So Do or Do Fa Do Re So Le Re So Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Play 3 minutes of technical skill exercises on any 2nd instrument.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor mode vocalises, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two rhythms as written. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4, while singing. Sing the chromatic scale up and down on solfege. Sing major amnd inor mode triads in inversions, up and down. Sing dominant 7 chord in inversions, up and down.
Project: Set to music O Mistress mine where are you roaming? by William Shakespeare (from Twelfth Night) and perform in your recital.
Performance: 1) Recital, 35-40 minutes, including minimum 4 minutes singing in primary and secondary language. 2nd instrument required. 2) Participate as a choral singer in a choir, including rehearsals and performance.
Ridge Level 3 (Ascent Level 24)
Dedicated to Whitney Houston
Repertoire: The Star-spangled Banner, vocal solo, a cappella. One or more Houston song selection(s), collaborative with piano and/or any instrumentation. Student can perform as singer, instrumentalist/band member, and/or alternate roles. Additional selections of pop songs for piano, voice, and any other instrumentation. All singing must be memorized.
Instruments: Piano, voice, and 2nd instrument (required).
Technical Skill: All sharp major scales and the relative minor scales, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor, in contrary motion, hands together, two/four octaves, up and down, plus the cadence I-IV-I-ii-V-vi-ii-V-V7-I or i-iv-i-ii°-V-VI-ii°-V-V7-i using common tones. Play the tonic arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the dominant 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the diminished 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play a chromatic scale, three octaves and four octaves, up and down, hands together. Sing a major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scale one octave, up and down, plus the Do Fa Do Re So La Re So Do or Do Fa Do Re So Le Re So Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Play 3 minutes of technical skill exercises on any 2nd instrument.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor mode vocalises, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two rhythms as written. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4, while singing. Sing the chromatic scale up and down on solfege. Sing major and minor mode triads in inversions, up and down. Sing dominant 7 chord in inversions, up and down.
Project: Set to music The Lost Chord by Adelaide Procter and perform in your recital.
Performance: 1) Recital, 35-40 minutes, including minimum 4 minutes singing in primary and secondary language. 2nd instrument required. 2) Participate both as a choral singer and an instrumentalist (alternating roles) in a gospel choir, rehearsal and performance. 3) Sing The Star-spangled Banner, vocal solo, a cappella, at a separate sporting or similar event before a live audience. Submit audio/video recording. (Note: student may sing The Star-spangled Banner as part of their recital, but must also sing at a separate event as described.)
Ridge Level 4 (Ascent Level 25)
Dedicated to Louis Armstrong
Repertoire: When the Saints Go Marching In, vocal solo, with any instrumentation. Two songs each, singing, playing, composed, performed, or inspired by each of the following musicians: Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerals, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, plus any additional selected jazz or “American Songbook” standards. Student can perform as singer, instrumentalist, band member, and/or alternate roles. All singing must be memorized.
Instruments: Piano, voice, and 2nd instrument (required).
Technical Skill: All flat major scales and the relative minor scales, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor, in contrary motion, hands together, two/four octaves, up and down, plus the cadence I-IV-I-ii-V-vi-ii-V-V7-I or i-iv-i-ii°-V-VI-ii°-V-V7-i using common tones. Play the tonic arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the dominant 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the diminished 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play a chromatic scale, three octaves and four octaves, up and down, hands together. Sing a major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scale one octave, up and down, plus the Do Fa Do Re So La Re So Do or Do Fa Do Re So Le Re So Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Play 3 minutes of technical skill exercises on any 2nd instrument.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor mode vocalises, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two rhythms as written. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4, while singing. Sing the chromatic scale up and down on solfege. Sing major and minor mode triads in inversions, up and down. Sing diminshed 7 chord in inversions, up and down.
Project: Improvise the bass line from a chart of When the Saints Go Marching In and perform/record.
Performance: 1) Recital, 40-45 minutes, including minimum 4 minutes singing in primary and secondary language. 2nd instrument required. 2) Participate as a singer (any vocal part) in a barbershop quartet, with evidence provided.
Ridge Level 5 (Ascent Level 26)
Dedicated to Scott Joplin
Repertoire: Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag, The Entertainer, and two additional selections by Scott Joplin, including optional collaborations. George Botsford’s Black & White Rag, Felix Arndt’s Nola, and Zez Confrey’s Kitten on the Keys. Any other music selections of ragtime, stride, novelty, and related genres, composers, or time period, any instrument.
Instruments: Piano, voice, and 2nd instrument (required).
Technical Skill: All flat major scales and the relative minor scales, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor, in contrary motion, hands together, two/four octaves, up and down, plus the cadence I-IV-I-ii-V-vi-ii-V-V7-I or i-iv-i-ii°-V-VI-ii°-V-V7-i using common tones. Play the tonic arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the dominant 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the diminished 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play a chromatic scale, three octaves and four octaves, up and down, hands together. Sing a major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scale one octave, up and down, plus the Do Fa Do Re So La Re So Do or Do Fa Do Re So Le Re So Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Play 3 minutes of technical skill exercises on any 2nd instrument.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor mode vocalises, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two rhythms as written. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4, while singing. Sing the chromatic scale up and down on solfege. Sing major and minor mode triads in inversions, up and down. Sing diminished 7 chord in inversions, up and down.
Project: Improvise the bass line from a chart of Alexander's Ragtime Band (1911) by Irving Berlin and perform in your recital.
Performance: 1) Recital, 40-45 minutes, including minimum 4 minutes singing in primary and secondary language. 2nd instrument required. 2) Accompany dance rehearsals for minimum of 6 sessions.
Ridge Level 6 (Ascent Level 27)
Dedicated to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Repertoire: All Mozart, including Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K. 331 (all movements); Fantasia in D or Fantasia in C Minor; 12 Variations on "Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman," K. 265, plus any other Mozart selections, any instrument or voice.
Instruments: Piano, voice, and 2nd instrument (required).
Technical Skill: All flat major scales and the relative minor scales, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor, in contrary motion, hands together, two/four octaves, up and down, plus the cadence I-IV-I-ii-V-vi-ii-V-V7-I or i-iv-i-ii°-V-VI-ii°-V-V7-i using common tones. Play the tonic arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the dominant 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the diminished 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play a chromatic scale, three octaves and four octaves, up and down, hands together. Sing a major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scale one octave, up and down, plus the Do Fa Do Re So La Re So Do or Do Fa Do Re So Le Re So Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Play 3 minutes of technical skill exercises on any 2nd instrument.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor mode vocalises, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two rhythms as written. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4, while singing. Sing the chromatic scale up and down on solfege. Sing major and minor mode triads in inversions, up and down. Sing diminished 7 chord in inversions, up and down.
Project: Set to music Das Veilchen (The Violet) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1775) and perform in your recital.
Performance: Recital, 45-50 minutes, including minimum 4 minutes singing in primary and secondary language. 2nd instrument required.
Ridge Level 7 (Ascent Level 28)
Dedicated to Johann Sebastian (J.S.) Bach
Repertoire: All Bach, including: One Two- or Three-Part Invention or Sinfonia, one Prelude & Fugue from the Well-tempered Clavier, Book 1, one Prelude & Fugue from the Well-tempered Clavier, Book 2, one full Suite, plus any other J.S. Bach selections, any instrument.
Instruments: Piano, voice, and 2nd instrument (required).
Technical Skill: All sharp and flat major scales and the relative minor scales, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor, in the “grand scale” pattern, hands together, two/four octaves, up and down, plus the cadence I-IV-I-ii-V-vi-ii-V-V7-I or i-iv-i-ii°-V-VI-ii°-V-V7-i using common tones. Play the tonic arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the dominant 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play the diminished 7 arpeggios, each inversion, four octaves, up and down. Play a chromatic scale, three octaves and four octaves, up and down, hands together. Sing a major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scale one octave, up and down, plus the Do Fa Do Re So La Re So Do or Do Fa Do Re So Le Re So Do pattern, a cappella or accompanied, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Play 3 minutes of technical skill exercises on any 2nd instrument.
Musicianship: Sing the defined major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor mode vocalises, on moveable-Do solfege, and again on scale degree numbers. Sing a melody on solfege while tapping two rhythms as written. Conduct in 2, 3, and 4, while singing. Sing the chromatic scale up and down on solfege. Sing major and minor mode triads in inversions, up and down. Sing dominant 7 and diminished 7 chords in inversions, up and down.
Project: 1) Set to music in 4-part harmony Psalm 23 (The Lord is my Shepherd) and perform in your recital with piano or any ensemble, instrumentation, or voice. 2) Compose a piece of music in the style of J.S. Bach's Little Preludes and and perform in your recital. 3) Arrange The Star-spangled Banner for piano and another solo instrument and perform in your recital.
Performance: Recital, 50-60 minutes, including minimum 4 minutes singing (in primary and secondary language); 2nd instrument required.