Keyboard Skills Credit by Exam

Keyboard Skills Credit by Exam

Freshmen and transfer students with no previous piano study experience should enroll in PIAN 144. No examination or permission number is necessary. Check with your advisor about your particular degree requirements. Typically: PIAN 144, PIAN 148, PIAN 284 sequence or PIAN 310.

If you have a background in piano playing, you may choose to complete videos of requirements from each class to earn Credit by Exam by the deadline. Deadlines are 11:59 PM the Friday prior to the first day of classes every fall and spring semester or 11:59 PM by November 1 each fall or April 1 each spring. Once successful, you must complete the form for each level/class to receive the grade you earned. Then once your grade is posted there will be a $50 charge for each one on your student account. The form can be found here.

Download Credit by Exam Sheets:

Credit by Exam Requirements

  • eNovation Piano provides free access only for students taking the Credit by Exam before the semester begins.
  • All required video recordings (all parts for each level/class) must be submitted together in one submission. It's permissible to either upload multiple videos, or to combine all the elements into one video. If you choose to upload multiple videos, arrange them all in one playlist so that you can share the entire submission with one link.
  • The video recording must clearly show the student’s hands, body, and the piano keyboard throughout the entire performance. Videos that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted.
  • The video will be graded on accurate notes and rhythm, correct fingering, overall continuity, and maintaining a reasonable, musically appropriate tempo, not excessively slow or hesitant. 
  • You must successfully complete every level in order to take the higher-level class.  For example, if you want to take PIAN 284, you must pass 144 and 148. If you pass both 144 and 148, then you can take PIAN 284 without spending two semesters taking PIAN 144 and PIAN 148.  You must always pass every previous level class to continue into a higher-level class.
  • Incomplete submissions (any missing videos or materials) will result in automatic disqualification for that attempt.
  • Students are allowed a maximum of two opportunities to pass the Credit by Exam for each level/class.
  • If both attempts are unsuccessful, the student must enroll in the class to receive credit.
  • Graded on accurate notes and rhythm, correct fingering, overall continuity, and maintaining a reasonable, musically appropriate tempo, not excessively slow or hesitant.
  • Submit your recordings as unlisted YouTube videos before the deadline.
  • Send the completed YouTube video link(s) to piano faculty Dr. Ivy Lu Wang, at ivywangerickson@ku.edu.
  • When you send the email, label which course you are applying for. Each required section must have a clear title in the video (or listed in the email). Submit one video link with all labeled sections or one playlist containing all parts.  

How to Create and Share an Unlisted YouTube Video:

  1. Sign into your YouTube account.
  2. Click on “Your videos” in the left sidebar.
  3. Click on “Create” in the top righthand corner, then click on “Upload videos.”
  4. Upload your Credit by Exam video(s) by dragging and dropping them into the box, or by selecting them manually.
  5. At the beginning of the upload process you will be prompted to add a title: if you have multiple videos, please make clear which element is in each video by adding a title here.
  6. At the end of the upload process, in the “Visibility” step, you will be prompted to choose “private,” “unlisted,” or “public.” Select “unlisted.”
  7. Be sure to click “Save” to ensure your video is unlisted.
  8. Copy and send the YouTube video link(s), given to you after clicking “Save,” to Dr. Ivy Lu Wang at ivywangerickson@ku.edu.

Upcoming deadlines:

Free eNovation Piano access is available for exams by these deadlines:

Spring 2026: Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Fall 2026: Friday, August 21, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

The eNovation Piano textbook must be purchased for exams by these deadlines:

Spring 2026: April 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Fall 2026: November 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.