September 23, 2026 (1 of 12)

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

Binder on the music stand, iPad to the right. That is the setup.

Use the Practice Guide below. It writes your practice down for you — no comments needed.

  1. Press Start from # whatever number it shows.

  2. Press Start, read the assignment, practice.

  3. Tap the kind of practice, then press Done.

  4. Press Next practice item and go again.

30 minutes a day. Capped items count down and chime.

Log every practice session from today. The competition starts October 1 — practicing and logging now is how we get the kinks out.

🟩 on track · 🟨 needs extra attention · 🟪 didn't get to it · 🟥 priority · ⬛️ don't practice this one

[PRACTICE TOOLS]

Theory

1. ⬛️ Theory Unit 7: Triads

  • Not yet.

Musicianship

2. 🟩 Sight Reading (Newzik)

  • Pages 2, 3 and 4. One page per practice session.

  • Study it first: notes, fingering, position, expression, rhythm. Then play.

  • No mistakes before you move on.

3. ⬛️ RCM Online Ear Training

  • Not yet.

4. ⬛️ Rhythm: Basic Rhythmic Training (Newzik)

  • Not yet.

Musicianship

All three flashcard videos, same drills

  • DRILL 1 landmarks · DRILL 2 landmarks plus neighbors · DRILL 3 further away · DRILL 4 all mixed · DRILL 5 faster · DRILL 6 faster still.

  • Say the note, then play it.

  • Let the drill run to the end. Never pause it. Go back after.

5. 🟨 Note Reading Flashcards, Treble Clef

⏱ Max 4 minutes per practice session.

  • Start at DRILL 4. Skip 1, 2 and 3.

  • Pass off next week: drills 4, 5 and 6, no problems.

🎥 Flash Card Video, Treble Clef https://youtu.be/ClxsPTfBH5A

6. 🟨 Note Reading Flashcards, Bass Clef

⏱ Max 4 minutes per practice session.

  • Pass off next week: drills 3 and 4.

🎥 Flash Card Video, Bass Clef https://youtu.be/TCL1EjHcLQQ

7. 🟨 Note Reading Flashcards, Treble and Bass

⏱ Max 4 minutes per practice session.

  • Pass off next week: drill 2.

🎥 Flash Card Video, Treble & Bass https://youtu.be/bPHgfe9bZ6Q

Repertoire

8. 🟩 Alphabet Soup, mm. 1-4

⏱ Max 10 minutes per practice session.

  • Celebrate Piano! Solos 1, page 9. Right hand only.

  • NFPER method, one focus at a time.

  • On notes, say the note names out loud first.

  • Three correct in a row, then take the next focus.

9. 🟩 Alphabet Soup, mm. 5-8

⏱ Max 8 minutes per practice session.

  • Same method as mm. 1-4.

10. 🟩 Busy Bee Toccata

⏱ Max 10 minutes per practice session.

NFPER focus: notes, fingering

  • Celebrate Piano! Lesson & Musicianship, Unit 4, page 45. Measures 1 to 8, hands together.

  • Notes and fingering together, three correct in a row.

  • Then position, expression and rhythm together.

  • Say the note names out loud. Right hand finger 2, left hand fingers 2 and 3.

  • Forte. Slurs legato, smooth and connected.

🎥 Make it sound like this https://youtu.be/e2OeTIhRrLU

11. ⬛️ New Shoes (Niamath)

  • Not until I see you next time. We will come back to it.

Goals This Year

Look ahead to the next note, the way you look ahead crossing the street. Eyes stay on the music.

Finish your piece before you get off the bench or look at the audience.

Loud and soft — make a difference.

Speak loudly. Hold still while you speak. Eyes on one or two spots.

Review List

RCM Preparatory A

💚 The Haunted Mouse (List A)

💚 The Juggler (Nancy and Randall Faber) (List A)