May 20, 2025


  1. Position Focus:

    1. This week, think of “Bubble Wrist Pop” when we’re playing 5th fingers - especially at the end of a phrase or when it’s a single note - staccato or otherwise.

  2. RCM Level 2: May 27, 2025, 4:20 pm

  3. List A: Minuet

  4. List B: Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  5. List C: Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C

  6. Etude: Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) L. 2, Etude

💛“RCM Technical Requirements Level 02”

  1. 15 min a day: rotate through each item

  2. practice this week: Once each item close-loud. Then up to tempo with smooth sound and even rhythm.

  3. Remember that close-loud is slow.

  4. Use metronome on and off woofer your final tempo markings.

❤️Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) (L. 2, Etude)

  1. Please make this softer. Don’t speed up and slow down within the phrases.

  2. Practice blocking every four measures, three times each correctly, then play as written.

  3. Listen for smooth notes / sound. Sometimes the top note of the RH will stick out.

  4. Make sure to practice the entire piece this way.

💚Minuet G Major by JS Bach (L. 2, A)

  1. Think about a pulse before you begin. This is throughout all of your assignments today. You’re doing so many things well - but keep the pulse in mind more than anything right now.

  2. Practice starting from the ends of sections and going into new ones for the sake of “pallet cleansing”

  3. Practice starting from 3 different places each practice session.

💚Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  1. Practice starting from any measure of the piece.

  2. once a day, play RH and LH alone, entire piece. Then hands together.

  3. With and without music, three times each day

💚Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C)

  1. Good recovery at the end. More dynamics.

  4. Practice with metronome: 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 and 108.

  5. Next week we will speed-build from 100

  6. Tidy attacks, smooth sound.

  7. Hold the LH E for it’s full value in measure 5.

💜“SIGHT-READING 2A

  1. Prepare at least pages 62-66

  2. GO NO FASTER THAN M.M. 50 PER QUARTER NOTE

💜Interval & Playback Practice

  1. Go to your PDF in Newzik called Four Star Level 02 Tests

  2. See the audio titled “Playbacks Examples 1-6”

  3. See video for Playback and Clapback.

💜FOUR STAR Level 2

  1. Sight-reading

    1. NEVER start over in the middle of the exercise.

    2. Don’t play faster than m.m. 32 per quarter note. You can turn the metronome on to hear the beat then turn it off.

    3. Look at the rhythm and do it abstractly in your head. NOT fast.

    4. Then look at the intervals, key signature, etc.

    5. If you make a mistake, CONTINUE and pretend it didn’t happen. 😎

🖤Theory Level 2

  1. Complete Unit 6 pages 1-4

REVIEW

💚Review once a week with your music. You don’t need to review all of them in ONE practice session - just one PER WEEK.

  1. 💚Ecossaise in G Major by LV Beethoven (L. 2, A)

  2. 💚Bourrée in D Minor by Christoph Graupner (1683-1760) (L. 1, A)

  3. 💚Canon by Carlton Elliott

  4. 💚Early One Morning (Level 1, B)

  5. 💚Celebration by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. 1, Etude)

  6. 💚💚Sleigh Bells by Christine Donkin (b. 1976) (L. A)

  7. 💚💚What’s That Noise? B by Martha Mier (b. 1936) (L. A)

  8. 💚💚Boots, by Yvonne Adair (L. A)

  9. 💚💚To Fly Like and Eagle by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. B)

  10. 💚💚💚The Haunted Mouse by Nancy and Randall Faber (b. 1955; 1954)(L. A)

  1. 🖤Presto in 5/8 by Edwin McLean (L. 2, B)

  2. 🖤Atacama Desert by Wynn-Anne Rossi (L. 2, B)

RCMCP: May 29, 2024, 3:00 pm

  1. List A: Bourrée in D Minor

  2. List B: Early One Morning

  3. List C: Canon

  4. Etude: Celebration

May 16, 2025


  1. Position Focus:

    1. This week, think of “Bubble Wrist Pop” when we’re playing 5th fingers - especially at the end of a phrase or when it’s a single note - staccato or otherwise.

  2. RCM Level 2: May 27, 2025, 4:20 pm

  3. List A: Minuet

  4. List B: Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  5. List C: Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C

  6. Etude: Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) L. 2, Etude

💛“RCM Technical Requirements Level 02”

  1. 7 min a day: rotate through each item

  2. Metronome practice this week: Before you start ANY item, pause long enough to think about a steady beat. This will get points taken away from you if you don’t do this.

  3. Keep your wrist lower.

💚Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) (L. 2, Etude)

  1. Please make this softer. Don’t speed up and slow down within the phrases.

  2. Practice blocking every four measures, three times each correctly, then play as written.

  3. Listen for smooth notes / sound. Sometimes the top note of the RH will stick out.

  4. Make sure to practice the entire piece this way.

💚Minuet G Major by JS Bach (L. 2, A)

  1. Think about a pulse before you begin. This is throughout all of your assignments today. You’re doing so many things well - but keep the pulse in mind more than anything right now.

  2. Practice starting from the ends of sections and going into new ones for the sake of “pallet cleansing”

  3. Practice starting from 3 different places each practice session.

💚Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  1. Practice starting from any measure of the piece.

  2. once a day, play RH and LH alone, entire piece. Then hands together.

  3. With and without music, three times each day

💚Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C)

  1. Good recovery at the end. More dynamics.

  4. Practice with metronome: 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 and 108.

  5. Next week we will speed-build from 100

  6. Tidy attacks, smooth sound.

  7. Hold the LH E for it’s full value in measure 5.

💜“SIGHT-READING 2A

  1. Prepare at least pages 62-66

  2. GO NO FASTER THAN M.M. 50 PER QUARTER NOTE

💜Interval & Playback Practice

  1. Go to your PDF in Newzik called Four Star Level 02 Tests

  2. See the audio titled “Playbacks Examples 1-6”

  3. See video for Playback and Clapback.

💜FOUR STAR Level 2

  1. Sight-reading

    1. NEVER start over in the middle of the exercise.

    2. Don’t play faster than m.m. 32 per quarter note. You can turn the metronome on to hear the beat then turn it off.

    3. Look at the rhythm and do it abstractly in your head. NOT fast.

    4. Then look at the intervals, key signature, etc.

    5. If you make a mistake, CONTINUE and pretend it didn’t happen. 😎

🖤Theory Level 2

  1. Complete Unit 6 pages 1-4

REVIEW

💚Review once a week with your music. You don’t need to review all of them in ONE practice session - just one PER WEEK.

  1. 💚Ecossaise in G Major by LV Beethoven (L. 2, A)

  2. 💚Bourrée in D Minor by Christoph Graupner (1683-1760) (L. 1, A)

  3. 💚Canon by Carlton Elliott

  4. 💚Early One Morning (Level 1, B)

  5. 💚Celebration by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. 1, Etude)

  6. 💚💚Sleigh Bells by Christine Donkin (b. 1976) (L. A)

  7. 💚💚What’s That Noise? B by Martha Mier (b. 1936) (L. A)

  8. 💚💚Boots, by Yvonne Adair (L. A)

  9. 💚💚To Fly Like and Eagle by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. B)

  10. 💚💚💚The Haunted Mouse by Nancy and Randall Faber (b. 1955; 1954)(L. A)

  1. 🖤Presto in 5/8 by Edwin McLean (L. 2, B)

  2. 🖤Atacama Desert by Wynn-Anne Rossi (L. 2, B)

RCMCP: May 29, 2024, 3:00 pm

  1. List A: Bourrée in D Minor

  2. List B: Early One Morning

  3. List C: Canon

  4. Etude: Celebration

May 6, 2025


  1. Position Focus:

    1. This week, think of “Bubble Wrist Pop” when we’re playing 5th fingers - especially at the end of a phrase or when it’s a single note - staccato or otherwise.

  2. RCM Level 2: May 27, 2025, 4:20 pm

  3. List A: Minuet

  4. List B: Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  5. List C: Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C

  6. Etude: Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) L. 2, Etude

💚“RCM Technical Requirements Level 02”

  1. 7 min a day: rotate through each item

  2. smooth movement

💚Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) (L. 2, Etude)

  1. Practice starting from random measures each day.

  2. Play with and without your music, three times each day.

  3. Focus on LH first two notes of each group of four - careful that they are not too close together. SOmetime they rush because your foot gets a little excited with the pedal and your fingers react!

  4. Careful of the last note of each group of four: don’t let it accent or stand out above the rest.

💚Minuet G Major by JS Bach (L. 2, A)

  1. Practice starting from the ends of sections and going into new ones for the sake of “pallet cleansing”

  2. Practice starting from 3 different places each practice session.

💚Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  1. Practice starting from any measure of the piece.

  2. once a day, play RH and LH alone, entire piece. Then hands together.

  3. With and without music, three times each day

💚Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C)

  1. Practice with metronome: 88, 92, 96, 100, 104 and 108.

  2. Next week we will speed-build from 100

  3. Tidy attacks, smooth sound.

  4. Hold the LH E for it’s full value in measure 5.

💜“SIGHT-READING 2A

  1. Prepare at least pages 62-66

  2. GO NO FASTER THAN M.M. 50 PER QUARTER NOTE

💜Interval & Playback Practice

  1. Go to your PDF in Newzik called Four Star Level 02 Tests

  2. See the audio titled “Playbacks Examples 1-6”

💜FOUR STAR Level 2

  1. Sight-reading

    1. NEVER start over in the middle of the exercise.

    2. Don’t play faster than m.m. 32 per quarter note. You can turn the metronome on to hear the beat then turn it off.

    3. Look at the rhythm and do it abstractly in your head. NOT fast.

    4. Then look at the intervals, key signature, etc.

    5. If you make a mistake, CONTINUE and pretend it didn’t happen. 😎

🖤Theory Level 2

  1. Complete Unit 6 pages 1-4

REVIEW

💚Review once a week with your music. You don’t need to review all of them in ONE practice session - just one PER WEEK.

  1. 💚Ecossaise in G Major by LV Beethoven (L. 2, A)

  2. 💚Bourrée in D Minor by Christoph Graupner (1683-1760) (L. 1, A)

  3. 💚Canon by Carlton Elliott

  4. 💚Early One Morning (Level 1, B)

  5. 💚Celebration by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. 1, Etude)

  6. 💚💚Sleigh Bells by Christine Donkin (b. 1976) (L. A)

  7. 💚💚What’s That Noise? B by Martha Mier (b. 1936) (L. A)

  8. 💚💚Boots, by Yvonne Adair (L. A)

  9. 💚💚To Fly Like and Eagle by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. B)

  10. 💚💚💚The Haunted Mouse by Nancy and Randall Faber (b. 1955; 1954)(L. A)

  1. 🖤Presto in 5/8 by Edwin McLean (L. 2, B)

  2. 🖤Atacama Desert by Wynn-Anne Rossi (L. 2, B)

RCMCP: May 29, 2024, 3:00 pm

  1. List A: Bourrée in D Minor

  2. List B: Early One Morning

  3. List C: Canon

  4. Etude: Celebration

April 29, 2025


  1. RCM Level 2: May 27, 2025, 4:20 pm

  2. List A: (Ecossaise & Minuet)

  3. List B: Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  4. List C: Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C

  5. Etude: Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) L. 2, Etude

💚“RCM Technical Requirements Level 02”

  1. 7 min a day: rotate through each item

  2. smooth movement

💚Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) (L. 2, Etude)

  1. Measures 9 to the end:

    1. Block the harmony (for every beat)

    2. Then focus on round fingers and clean pedal (catch all the bass notes in the pedal).

    3. Finally, round fingers, clean pedal, and no accents.

  2. Practice starting from random measures each day.

  3. Play with and without your music, three times each day.

💚Ecossaise in G Major by LV Beethoven (L. 2, A)

  1. Practice starting from any measure of the piece - three times each practice session.

  2. Careful not to slide on the keys (you’re sometimes pulling toward you on the keys).

  3. Practice hands alone, then together, once each day.

  4. With and without music, three times each day

💚Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  1. Practice starting from any measure of the piece.

  2. once a day, play RH and LH alone, entire piece. Then hands together.

  3. With and without music, three times each day

💜“SIGHT-READING 2A

  1. Prepare at least pages 62-66

  2. GO NO FASTER THAN M.M. 50 PER QUARTER NOTE

💜Interval & Playback Practice

  1. Go to your PDF in Newzik called Four Star Level 02 Tests

  2. See the audio titled “Playbacks Examples 1-6”

💜FOUR STAR Level 2

  1. Sight-reading

    1. NEVER start over in the middle of the exercise.

    2. Don’t play faster than m.m. 32 per quarter note. You can turn the metronome on to hear the beat then turn it off.

    3. Look at the rhythm and do it abstractly in your head. NOT fast.

    4. Then look at the intervals, key signature, etc.

    5. If you make a mistake, CONTINUE and pretend it didn’t happen. 😎

💛Minuet G Major by JS Bach (L. 2, A)

  1. All 8th notes: beware of rhythm monster!👹 See the blue circles.

  2. Practice starting from 3 different places each practice session.

💜Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C)

  1. Practice with metronome: 63, 66, 69, 72 and 76

  2. Next week we will speed-build from 76

🖤Theory Level 2

  1. Complete Unit 6 pages 1-4

REVIEW

💚Review once a week with your music. You don’t need to review all of them in ONE practice session - just one PER WEEK.

  1. 💚Bourrée in D Minor by Christoph Graupner (1683-1760) (L. 1, A)

  2. 💚Canon by Carlton Elliott

  3. 💚Early One Morning (Level 1, B)

  4. 💚Celebration by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. 1, Etude)

  5. 💚💚Sleigh Bells by Christine Donkin (b. 1976) (L. A)

  6. 💚💚What’s That Noise? B by Martha Mier (b. 1936) (L. A)

  7. 💚💚Boots, by Yvonne Adair (L. A)

  8. 💚💚To Fly Like and Eagle by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. B)

  9. 💚💚💚The Haunted Mouse by Nancy and Randall Faber (b. 1955; 1954)(L. A)

  1. 🖤Presto in 5/8 by Edwin McLean (L. 2, B)

  2. 🖤Atacama Desert by Wynn-Anne Rossi (L. 2, B)

RCMCP: May 29, 2024, 3:00 pm

  1. List A: Bourrée in D Minor

  2. List B: Early One Morning

  3. List C: Canon

  4. Etude: Celebration

April 15 & 22, 2025


  1. RCM Level 2: May 27, 2025, 4:20 pm

  2. List A: (Ecossaise & Minuet)

  3. List B: Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  4. List C: Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C

  5. Etude: Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) L. 2, Etude

💛Practice speaking the blurbs out loud every day. Slowly and with good enunciation

🎹💚Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) (L. 2, Etude)

  1. Measures 9 to the end:

    1. Block the harmony (for every beat)

    2. Then focus on round fingers and clean pedal (catch all the bass notes in the pedal).

    3. Finally, round fingers, clean pedal, and no accents.

  2. Practice starting from random measures each day.

  3. Play with and without your music, three times each day.

🎹💚Ecossaise in G Major by LV Beethoven (L. 2, A)

  1. Practice starting from any measure of the piece - three times each practice session.

  2. Careful not to slide on the keys (you’re sometimes pulling toward you on the keys).

  3. Practice hands alone, then together, once each day.

  4. With and without music, three times each day

🎹💚Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  1. Practice starting from any measure of the piece.

  2. once a day, play RH and LH alone, entire piece. Then hands together.

  3. With and without music, three times each day

💜“RCM Technical Requirements Level 02”

  1. See the highlights

  2. Please focus on tidy attacks for any item that has more than one note played at once.

💜“SIGHT-READING 2A

  1. Prepare at least pages 62-66

  2. GO NO FASTER THAN M.M. 50 PER QUARTER NOTE

💜Interval & Playback Practice

  1. Go to your PDF in Newzik called Four Star Level 02 Tests

  2. See the audio titled “Playbacks Examples 1-6”

💜FOUR STAR Level 2

  1. Sight-reading

    1. NEVER start over in the middle of the exercise.

    2. Don’t play faster than m.m. 32 per quarter note. You can turn the metronome on to hear the beat then turn it off.

    3. Look at the rhythm and do it abstractly in your head. NOT fast.

    4. Then look at the intervals, key signature, etc.

    5. If you make a mistake, CONTINUE and pretend it didn’t happen. 😎

💛Minuet G Major by JS Bach (L. 2, A)

  1. All 8th notes: beware of rhythm monster!👹 See the blue circles.

  2. Practice starting from 3 different places each practice session.

💚Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C)

  1. Practice with metronome: 63, 66, 69, 72 and 76

  2. Next week we will speed-build from 76

🖤Theory Level 2

  1. Complete Unit 6 pages 1-4

REVIEW

💚Review once a week with your music. You don’t need to review all of them in ONE practice session - just one PER WEEK.

  1. 💚Bourrée in D Minor by Christoph Graupner (1683-1760) (L. 1, A)

  2. 💚Canon by Carlton Elliott

  3. 💚Early One Morning (Level 1, B)

  4. 💚Celebration by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. 1, Etude)

  5. 💚💚Sleigh Bells by Christine Donkin (b. 1976) (L. A)

  6. 💚💚What’s That Noise? B by Martha Mier (b. 1936) (L. A)

  7. 💚💚Boots, by Yvonne Adair (L. A)

  8. 💚💚To Fly Like and Eagle by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. B)

  9. 💚💚💚The Haunted Mouse by Nancy and Randall Faber (b. 1955; 1954)(L. A)

  1. 🖤Presto in 5/8 by Edwin McLean (L. 2, B)

  2. 🖤Atacama Desert by Wynn-Anne Rossi (L. 2, B)

RCMCP: May 29, 2024, 3:00 pm

  1. List A: Bourrée in D Minor

  2. List B: Early One Morning

  3. List C: Canon

  4. Etude: Celebration

April 8, 2025


  1. RCM Level 2: May 27, 2025, 4:20 pm

  2. List A: (Ecossaise & Minuet)

  3. List B: Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  4. List C: Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C

  5. Etude: Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) L. 2, Etude

Achievement in Posture Award: 💚💚💚💛💚💛💚💚

  1. 💚 Dustin didn’t ask for good posture, ONCE!

  2. 💛 Dustin asked for good posture one to three times.

  3. ❤️ Dustin asked for good posture four or more times!

  4. After 5 greens, you will receive a REWARD!

💚Revise the wording / content as you see fit

Toby Edwards
Écossaise in G Major – Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1837)

An écossaise is a Scottish-style dance, and Beethoven’s take on it is short, catchy, and full of bounce. It’s not his most serious work — but that’s part of the fun. Beethoven had a sense of humor too.

Toby Edwards
Etude in G Major, Op. 166 No. 6 – Henri Bertini (1798–1876)

Henri Bertini was a French composer who believed that learning technique didn’t have to be boring. This etude sparkles with lightness and precision — like a quick dash through a sunny garden.

Toby Edwards
Crocodile Tears – Christine Donkin (b. 1976)

The title might sound dramatic, but 'Crocodile Tears' is actually kind of a joke. It refers to fake crying — and Christine Donkin’s music captures that drama perfectly, with over-the-top sighs and slinky melodies. It’s just the right amount of drama.

🎹💚Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) (L. 2, Etude)

  1. Practice starting from any measure of the piece.

  2. Practice the expression in 8 measure chunks (pedal, smooth texture)

  3. Memorize the piece by playing 4-8 measure chunks with and without the music. Sometimes practicing in blocked chords helps.

🎹💚Ecossaise in G Major by LV Beethoven (L. 2, A)

  1. Practice starting from any measure of the piece - three times each practice session.

  2. Careful not to slide on the keys (you’re sometimes pulling toward you on the kyes).

🎹💚Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  1. Practice starting from any measure of the piece.

  2. Think about the “phrasing” that we talked about (the purple lines). A phrase is a musical thought.

  3. Also try to apply the expression of “fake tears.” Act it out without letting your body get too involved.

💚“RCM Technical Requirements Level 02”

  1. See the highlights

  2. Please focus on tidy attacks for any item that has more than one note played at once.

💚“SIGHT-READING 2A

  1. Prepare at least pages 62-66

  2. GO NO FASTER THAN M.M. 50 PER QUARTER NOTE

💚Interval & Playback Practice

  1. Go to your PDF in Newzik called Four Star Level 02 Tests

  2. See the audio titled “Playbacks Examples 1-6”

💚FOUR STAR Level 2

  1. Sight-reading

    1. NEVER start over in the middle of the exercise.

    2. Don’t play faster than m.m. 32 per quarter note. You can turn the metronome on to hear the beat then turn it off.

    3. Look at the rhythm and do it abstractly in your head. NOT fast.

    4. Then look at the intervals, key signature, etc.

    5. If you make a mistake, CONTINUE and pretend it didn’t happen. 😎

💛Minuet G Major by JS Bach (L. 2, A)

  1. All 8th notes: beware of rhythm monster!👹 See the blue circles.

  2. Practice starting from 3 different places each practice session.

💚Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C)

  1. Practice with metronome: 63, 66, 69, 72 and 76

  2. Next week we will speed-build from 76

🖤Theory Level 2

  1. Complete Unit 6 pages 1-4

REVIEW

💚Review once a week with your music. You don’t need to review all of them in ONE practice session - just one PER WEEK.

  1. 💚Bourrée in D Minor by Christoph Graupner (1683-1760) (L. 1, A)

  2. 💚Canon by Carlton Elliott

  3. 💚Early One Morning (Level 1, B)

  4. 💚Celebration by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. 1, Etude)

  5. 💚💚Sleigh Bells by Christine Donkin (b. 1976) (L. A)

  6. 💚💚What’s That Noise? B by Martha Mier (b. 1936) (L. A)

  7. 💚💚Boots, by Yvonne Adair (L. A)

  8. 💚💚To Fly Like and Eagle by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. B)

  9. 💚💚💚The Haunted Mouse by Nancy and Randall Faber (b. 1955; 1954)(L. A)

  1. 🖤Presto in 5/8 by Edwin McLean (L. 2, B)

  2. 🖤Atacama Desert by Wynn-Anne Rossi (L. 2, B)

RCMCP: May 29, 2024, 3:00 pm

  1. List A: Bourrée in D Minor

  2. List B: Early One Morning

  3. List C: Canon

  4. Etude: Celebration

April 1, 2025


  1. RCM Level 2: May 27, 2025, 4:20 pm

  2. List A: (Ecossaise & Minuet)

  3. List B: Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  4. List C: Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C

  5. Etude: Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) L. 2, Etude

Achievement in Posture Award: 💚💚💚💛💚💛💚💚

  1. 💚 Dustin didn’t ask for good posture, ONCE!

  2. 💛 Dustin asked for good posture one to three times.

  3. ❤️ Dustin asked for good posture four or more times!

  4. After 5 greens, you will receive a REWARD!

💚“RCM Technical Requirements Level 02”

  1. See the highlights

  2. Please focus on tidy attacks for any item that has more than one note played at once.

💚“SIGHT-READING 2A

  1. Prepare at least pages 62-66

  2. GO NO FASTER THAN M.M. 50 PER QUARTER NOTE

💚Interval & Playback Practice

  1. Go to your PDF in Newzik called Four Star Level 02 Tests

  2. See the audio titled “Playbacks Examples 1-6”

💚FOUR STAR Level 2

  1. Sight-reading

    1. NEVER start over in the middle of the exercise.

    2. Don’t play faster than m.m. 32 per quarter note. You can turn the metronome on to hear the beat then turn it off.

    3. Look at the rhythm and do it abstractly in your head. NOT fast.

    4. Then look at the intervals, key signature, etc.

    5. If you make a mistake, CONTINUE and pretend it didn’t happen. 😎

🎹💚Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) (L. 2, Etude)

  1. Pedal: don’t change your pedal until slightly after you have played the note.

  2. Block the last system every day, then play as written.

  3. Gradually speed-build, two-four measures at a time.

  4. Keep your sound soft - especially the RH.

💛Minuet G Major by JS Bach (L. 2, A)

  1. All 8th notes: beware of rhythm monster!👹 See the blue circles.

  2. Practice starting from 3 different places each practice session.

🎹💚Ecossaise in G Major by LV Beethoven (L. 2, A)

  1. Speed-build two systems at a time:

    1. M.m. 63, 66, 69, 72, 76

  2. Careful not to slide on the keys (you’re sometimes pulling toward you on the kyes).

🎹💚Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  1. Practice starting from any measure of the piece.

💚Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C)

  1. Practice with metronome: 63, 66, 69, 72 and 76

  2. Next week we will speed-build from 76

🖤Theory Level 2

  1. Complete Unit 6 pages 1-4

REVIEW

💚Review once a week with your music. You don’t need to review all of them in ONE practice session - just one PER WEEK.

  1. 💚Bourrée in D Minor by Christoph Graupner (1683-1760) (L. 1, A)

  2. 💚Canon by Carlton Elliott

  3. 💚Early One Morning (Level 1, B)

  4. 💚Celebration by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. 1, Etude)

  5. 💚💚Sleigh Bells by Christine Donkin (b. 1976) (L. A)

  6. 💚💚What’s That Noise? B by Martha Mier (b. 1936) (L. A)

  7. 💚💚Boots, by Yvonne Adair (L. A)

  8. 💚💚To Fly Like and Eagle by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. B)

  9. 💚💚💚The Haunted Mouse by Nancy and Randall Faber (b. 1955; 1954)(L. A)

  1. 🖤Presto in 5/8 by Edwin McLean (L. 2, B)

  2. 🖤Atacama Desert by Wynn-Anne Rossi (L. 2, B)

RCMCP: May 29, 2024, 3:00 pm

  1. List A: Bourrée in D Minor

  2. List B: Early One Morning

  3. List C: Canon

  4. Etude: Celebration

March 25, 2025


  1. RCM Level 2: May 27, 2025, 4:20 pm

  2. List A: (Ecossaise & Minuet)

  3. List B: Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  4. List C: Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C

  5. Etude: Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) L. 2, Etude

Achievement in Posture Award: 💚💚💚💛💚💛💚💚

  1. 💚 Dustin didn’t ask for good posture, ONCE!

  2. 💛 Dustin asked for good posture one to three times.

  3. ❤️ Dustin asked for good posture four or more times!

  4. After 5 greens, you will receive a REWARD!

💚“RCM Technical Requirements Level 02”

  1. See the highlights

  2. Please focus on tidy attacks for any item that has more than one note played at once.

💚“SIGHT-READING 2A

  1. Prepare at least pages 57-61

  2. GO NO FASTER THAN M.M. 50 PER QUARTER NOTE

💛Interval & Playback Practice

  1. Go to your PDF in Newzik called Four Star Level 02 Tests

  2. 💛See the audio titled “Playbacks Examples 1-6”

💚FOUR STAR Level 2

  1. Sight-reading

    1. NEVER start over in the middle of the exercise.

    2. Don’t play faster than m.m. 32 per quarter note. You can turn the metronome on to hear the beat then turn it off.

    3. Look at the rhythm and do it abstractly in your head. NOT fast.

    4. Then look at the intervals, key signature, etc.

    5. If you make a mistake, CONTINUE and pretend it didn’t happen. 😎

🎹💛Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) (L. 2, Etude)

  1. Prepare mm. 5-8 as written

  2. Continue to practice 9-End, blocked!

  3. If you can, learn as written to the end.

💚Minuet G Major by JS Bach (L. 2, A)

  1. All 8th notes: beware of rhythm monster!👹 See the blue circles.

  2. Practice starting from 3 different places each practice session.

🎹💚Ecossaise in G Major by LV Beethoven (L. 2, A)

  1. See the new green markings!

  2. Practice starting from any measure of the piece.

🎹💚Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  1. Now that you’ve memorized the piece, focus a lot on expression!

  2. practice starting from random measures.

  3. Remember your tempo: going from sections that have lots of notes to sections that have fewer notes - easy to speed up.

💚Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C)

  1. Please do the poco rit. at the end.

    1. poco = little

    2. Rit. Abbreviation for ritardando = gradually slow down

  2. Practice starting from any measure of the piece.

🖤Theory Level 2

  1. Complete Unit 6 pages 1-4

REVIEW

💚Review once a week with your music. You don’t need to review all of them in ONE practice session - just one PER WEEK.

  1. 💚Bourrée in D Minor by Christoph Graupner (1683-1760) (L. 1, A)

  2. 💚Canon by Carlton Elliott

  3. 💚Early One Morning (Level 1, B)

  4. 💚Celebration by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. 1, Etude)

  5. 💚💚Sleigh Bells by Christine Donkin (b. 1976) (L. A)

  6. 💚💚What’s That Noise? B by Martha Mier (b. 1936) (L. A)

  7. 💚💚Boots, by Yvonne Adair (L. A)

  8. 💚💚To Fly Like and Eagle by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. B)

  9. 💚💚💚The Haunted Mouse by Nancy and Randall Faber (b. 1955; 1954)(L. A)

  1. 🖤Presto in 5/8 by Edwin McLean (L. 2, B)

  2. 🖤Atacama Desert by Wynn-Anne Rossi (L. 2, B)

RCMCP: May 29, 2024, 3:00 pm

  1. List A: Bourrée in D Minor

  2. List B: Early One Morning

  3. List C: Canon

  4. Etude: Celebration

March 19, 2025


Click here for the note-reading game

  1. RCM Level 2: May 27, 2025, 4:20 pm

  2. List A: (Ecossaise & Minuet)

  3. List B: Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  4. List C: Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C

  5. Etude: Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) L. 2, Etude

Achievement in Posture Award: 💚💚💚💛💚💛💚💚

  1. 💚 Dustin didn’t ask for good posture, ONCE!

  2. 💛 Dustin asked for good posture one to three times.

  3. ❤️ Dustin asked for good posture four or more times!

  4. After 5 greens, you will receive a REWARD!

💚“RCM Technical Requirements Level 02”

  1. See the highlights

  2. Please focus on tidy attacks for any item that has more than one note played at once.

💜“SIGHT-READING 2A

  1. Prepare at least pages 51-55

  2. GO NO FASTER THAN M.M. 50 PER QUARTER NOTE

💜Interval & Playback Practice

  1. Go to your PDF in Newzik called Four Star Level 02 Tests

  2. See the audio titled “Playbacks Examples 1-6”

💜FOUR STAR Level 2

  1. Sight-reading

    1. NEVER start over in the middle of the exercise.

    2. Don’t play faster than m.m. 32 per quarter note. You can turn the metronome on to hear the beat then turn it off.

    3. Look at the rhythm and do it abstractly in your head. NOT fast.

    4. Then look at the intervals, key signature, etc.

    5. If you make a mistake, CONTINUE and pretend it didn’t happen. 😎

💜Theory Level 2

  1. Complete Unit 6 pages 1-4

💚Etude in G Major, op. 166, no. 6 by Henri Bertini (1798-1876) (L. 2, Etude)

  1. Measures 5-8, 9-12, and 13 to the end: be able to play through blocked with no pauses at m.m. 60 per quarter note.

💚Minuet G Major by JS Bach (L. 2, A)

  1. Please fix the pink markings

  2. Practice starting from 3 different places each practice session.

  3. 🖤Next goal:

    1. Metronome practice

    2. Dynamic refinement

💚Ecossaise in G Major by LV Beethoven (L. 2, A)

  1. See the new green markings!

  2. Practice starting from any measure of the piece.

💚Crocodile Tears by Christine Donkin (L. 2, B)

  1. See all the new green markings.

  2. Memorize up to measure 20 for next lesson.

💛Invention in C Major by Renée Christopher (b. 1955) L. 2, C)

  1. Do hands alone practice, followed by hands together.

  2. Spot any sections that need it.

  3. Finally, Try to play with m.m. 60 per quarter note.

REVIEW

💚Review once a week with your music. You don’t need to review all of them in ONE practice session - just one PER WEEK.

  1. 💚Bourrée in D Minor by Christoph Graupner (1683-1760) (L. 1, A)

  2. 💚Canon by Carlton Elliott

  3. 💚Early One Morning (Level 1, B)

  4. 💚Celebration by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. 1, Etude)

  5. 💚💚Sleigh Bells by Christine Donkin (b. 1976) (L. A)

  6. 💚💚What’s That Noise? B by Martha Mier (b. 1936) (L. A)

  7. 💚💚Boots, by Yvonne Adair (L. A)

  8. 💚💚To Fly Like and Eagle by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (L. B)

  9. 💚💚💚The Haunted Mouse by Nancy and Randall Faber (b. 1955; 1954)(L. A)

  1. 🖤Presto in 5/8 by Edwin McLean (L. 2, B)

  2. 🖤Atacama Desert by Wynn-Anne Rossi (L. 2, B)

RCMCP: May 29, 2024, 3:00 pm

  1. List A: Bourrée in D Minor

  2. List B: Early One Morning

  3. List C: Canon

  4. Etude: Celebration