2026-2027 Events
October 17-18, 2026 — Group Classes
December 5-6, 2026 — Group Classes
January 24, 2027 — Performance Class & Guest Artist Workshop
February 27-28, 2027 — Group Classes
April 10-11, 2027 — Group Classes
May 22, 2027 — Student Final Recital
How to Practice
Use the Practice Guide below. It writes your practice down for you, no comments needed.
Tap the first assignment on your list.
The timer starts by itself. Read it and practice.
When you are finished, press Done. It saves your time and opens the next one.
Need to stop for a minute? Press Pause.
If you pause and walk away, press Done when you come back, even if you forgot to press Resume. A run that is paused and never finished logs nothing at all.
Lost? Press My Assignment List at the top to go back.
Log only what you actually did, on the day you did it. Five minutes is a real entry.
Spread it across the week. Five days of short sessions beats two long ones. Repetition is what makes the difference, not total minutes.
Some assignments finish. Those carry a Done for the Week button. Press it when the job is done and the assignment comes off your list.
Need the metronome, a recorder or the Section-Work colors? They are in Practice Tools. Tap one and it opens inside your assignment. Tap Close to put it away.
Official tracking started Monday, October 19.
🟩 on track · 🟨 needs extra attention · 🟪 didn't get to it at the lesson · 🟥 priority · ⬛️ on hold, don't practice this one · 🟧 mine, not yours
[PRACTICE TOOLS]
Technique
1. 🟩 Technical Requirements for Piano, Level 4 (RCM), C melodic minor
THIS WEEK: C melodic minor. Right hand, then left hand, then hands together.
New this week.
Hands alone first, both of them, before you put them together.
Keep tucking the thumb instead of twisting.
2. 🟩 Technical Requirements for Piano, Level 4 (RCM), formula pattern, C harmonic minor
THIS WEEK: Formula pattern, C harmonic minor, hands together.
You already know how to play C harmonic minor in parallel motion. This is a step up from that, not a new scale.
There is really only one accidental to keep track of.
3. 🟩 Technical Requirements for Piano, Level 4 (RCM), chromatic scale starting on C
THIS WEEK: Chromatic scale starting on C. Right hand alone, left hand alone.
Hands alone only this week.
Theory
4. ⬛️ Celebrate Theory, Level 4 (RCM)
On hold.
Musicianship
5. 🟩 Celebration Series, Preparatory B, Repertoire
THIS WEEK: At least 8 measures of sight reading per practice session.
Keep sight reading straight through the book. You do not have to finish it.
Pick your eight measures before you start. Here to here. More if you have time.
Plan it first: key signature, rhythms, anything awkward.
Pick a speed you can hold. Play it once without stopping, then find your own errors.
It is mine, so no markings.
6. 🟩 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests, Level 4 (Berlin and Markow), Set 4
THIS WEEK: Finish Set 4. One day per practice session.
Press Done for the Week once day 5 is finished.
7. 🟩 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests, Level 4 (Berlin and Markow), Set 5
THIS WEEK: Set 5, after Set 4 is done. One day per practice session.
On the playbacks, name the key and count the sharps or flats before you play.
Hum it in your head first. You cannot hum out loud in the exam, so practice imagining it.
When a melody moves around a lot, listen for the direction rather than the single notes.
For a clap back, tap one measure of silence first, then come in.
On a complicated rhythm, count in the shortest note value.
Press Done for the Week once day 5 is finished.
Repertoire
8. 🟩 Gavotte in F major (Graupner), m. 16, left hand
THIS WEEK: Measure 16, left hand, 5 times correctly each practice session.
Correct fingering and correct rhythm, every time.
This is the hardest measure in the piece. Hands together will not work until this one is down.
9. 🟩 Gavotte in F major (Graupner), mm. 16-20, left hand
THIS WEEK: Measures 16 to 20, left hand, 5 times correctly each practice session.
We changed the fingering here. One on the C sharp, and hold it all the way.
Hold that note through to the dot, then let go on the first beat and move.
Three on the top note where we marked it. Keep it the same every time.
10. 🟩 Gavotte in F major (Graupner), mm. 9-15, left hand
THIS WEEK: Measures 9 to 15, left hand, 3 times correctly each practice session.
Let go of the bottom note in 17 and 18 the way we worked out, and hold the E sharp after the A.
11. 🟩 Gavotte in F major (Graupner), mm. 1-8, hands together
THIS WEEK: Measures 1 to 8, hands together. Review.
Control the tempo. Do not go too fast.
Keep the tie held on the last note.
12. 🟩 Gavotte in F major (Graupner), mm. 9-20, right hand
THIS WEEK: Measures 9 to 20, right hand. Review.
Find your anchor note first, then the other G notes come off it.
Stay loose. Land into the key rather than reaching for it.
13. 🟩 Sonatina in F major, Op. 168 No. 1, I. Moderato cantabile (Diabelli), mm. 8-12
THIS WEEK: Measures 8 to 12, with a focus on expression.
NFPER focus: expression.
Left hand very quiet. Right hand carries the melody.
Keep working the notes and the wrist movements.
Your left hand is changing position too early. Slow down and it fixes itself.
To get one hand softer, practice that hand alone first and teach it what soft feels like. Then put them together, then separate again.
14. 🟩 Sonatina in F major, Op. 168 No. 1, I. Moderato cantabile (Diabelli), mm. 1-7
THIS WEEK: Measures 1 to 7, with a focus on expression.
NFPER focus: expression.
Left hand quiet, right hand to the dynamic markings.
Steady tempo. You do not need to go any faster than you played it.
15. 🟩 Solitude, No. 9 for right hand alone (Grill)
THIS WEEK: Start from five random measures per session, and work on memorization.
Pedaling is fixed. Keep the heel on the floor.
Aim to play it from memory at the next lesson.
16. 🟩 Cool Cat Waltz (Pine)
THIS WEEK: Study the piece. Notes and fingering.
New piece. RCM Level 4, List C.
Mostly just study it. You can start learning hands alone if you want to.
It has swing eighths.
Print it out.
17. ⬛️ Sonatina in B-flat major, Op. 29, I. Andante (Schmitt)
Not started. On deck.
18. ⬛️ The Avalanche, Op. 45 No. 2 (Heller)
Not started. On deck.
RCM Level 4, where the program stands
Started
Sonatina in F major, Op. 168 No. 1, I. Moderato cantabile (Diabelli)
Solitude, No. 9 for right hand alone (Grill)
Gavotte in F major (Graupner)
Cool Cat Waltz (Pine)
Not started yet
Sonatina in B-flat major, Op. 29, I. Andante (Schmitt)
The Avalanche, Op. 45 No. 2 (Heller)
Celebrate Theory, Level 4 (RCM)
About Sight Reading
The Piano Adventures level numbers do not match the RCM levels. Level 2B is about an RCM Level 3 sight reading, and 3A and 3B are closer to Level 4.
We are going to move faster through these than one book per level.
If something is not a little bit difficult, it is not building anything. A little resistance is the point.