PIANO EXAMS – offered both as in-person and virtual (pre-recorded)
Purpose
To develop proficiency and musicianship through twelve levels of curriculum encompassing keyboard skills, sightplaying, and repertoire (Levels Preparatory-11:Capstone).
Comprehensive Piano exams include all three elements.
Keyboard Skills include scales, chords, and arpeggios.
Sightplaying helps students gain proficiency in playing at sight at the keyboard.
Keyboard and Sightplaying exams can be taken separately and in advance of the repertoire. However, to be considered for an award (levels 4 and up), all three elements must be taken on the same day.
Challenge Awards
● 300 points for the Comprehensive Piano Exam
● 100 points for the Keyboard-Skills-Only Exam
● 100 points for the Sight-Playing-Only Exam
Locations and Deadlines
● Deadlines are generally six weeks before the exam date.
● All locations and dates are subject to change. Visit the MMTA website, consult the Newsletter, or contact the program
director for up-to-date information.
● For virtual exams, video submissions are due on the date of the exam.
● For in-person exams that were changed to virtual exams, video submissions are due one week after the original exam
date.
● The Capstone Piano Exam will be offered only on 5/16/2026 at place TBD
Procedures and Repertoire
- See General Rules & Procedures for all MMTA Programs.
- The Comprehensive Piano Exam includes keyboard skills, sightplaying, and repertoire.
a. For Levels Prep-10: Keyboard Skills (Prep-10), and Sightplaying (Prep-6) may be taken separately if taken on an
earlier test date. $2 is deducted from the comprehensive fee for each separate exam. Score(s) must be
submitted when registering for the comprehensive exam or the student will be retested.
b. If the student has not taken Keyboard Skills or Sightplaying exam(s) before taking the Comprehensive Piano
exam, register for the Comprehensive Piano exam ONLY. Registrations and additional fees for the Keyboard
Skills and Sightplaying portions of the exam do not need to be submitted. - Each level’s requirements can be found in the 2020 Piano Syllabus.
- Students can be entered at any exam level and may skip a level (Levels Prep-9).
Special Requirements for Piano Exam Levels 10, 11, and Capstone
● A student must have a passing grade for level 10 exam before Level 11 exam may be taken.
● Repertoire for Piano Exam Level 10 & 11 must be approved by the Piano Education Programs Director prior to
registration. The approval must be included as part of the online registration, or attached to the piano exam
registration form if registration is submitted by mail.
● Students have two options at the highest level, Level 11 and Capstone.
● Students taking Level 11 have the option, as at previous levels, of taking the exam for the Comprehensive Certificate or
the Performance Certificate. Level 11 will be offered at all exam sites/dates.
● Students taking Capstone will meet specific requirements as outlined on p. 151 of the 2020 Piano Syllabus. Level 11
Capstone is designed to showcase the student’s comprehensive musicianship in a recital format and will be offered
once per year. - Materials
More information about the piano exam can be found in the 2020 Piano Exam Syllabus. The following materials can be used as
reference and as preparation for the exam:
● 2020 Piano Exam Syllabus
● 2021 Diversity Addendum
● 2020 Resource Reference
● 2020 Preparation Packet
● Keyboard Skills Book I (Covers Levels Preparatory-3)
● Keyboard Skills Book II (Covers Levels 4-6)
● Sight Playing Books, Levels Preparatory-6
2020 and 2030 Keyboard Skills
● Any student registered for a comprehensive piano exam or a keyboard-skills-only exam will take the 2020 keyboard
skills tests.
● Teachers may request for their students to be tested using the 2030 keyboard skills exam. Teachers who wish to do so
must contact and obtain permission from the Chair of the Piano Syllabus Development Committee as well as from the
Piano Education Program Director. - Theory Requirements
● The MMTA Theory Exam is a separate exam requiring a separate registration and fee.
● Students may take a Piano Exam without having passed the required level of theory. However, they will not be eligible
for a monetary award and will receive a Performance certificate in place of a Comprehensive certificate.
● To be eligible for a monetary award and the full certificate, students need to have passed the theory prerequisite on or
before the day of their comprehensive piano exam.
● The theory requirements serve as the minimum level passed. Students can pass a higher level theory to be eligible for
the comprehensive certificate and monetary awards.
● The theory requirements are as follows:
○ No theory required for Preparatory Comprehensive Piano Exam and Comprehensive Piano Exam Level 1.
○ Theory Level 1 is required for Comprehensive Piano Exam Level 2.
○ Theory Level 2 is required for Comprehensive Piano Exams Level 3.
○ Theory Level 3 is required for Comprehensive Piano Exam Levels 4 and 5.
○ Theory Level 4 is required for Comprehensive Piano Exams Levels 6 and 7.
○ Theory Level 5 is required for Comprehensive Piano Exams Levels 8 and 9.
○ Theory Level 6 is required for Comprehensive Piano Exams Levels 10, 11, and Capstone