September 21, 2026 (60 min · in-person)

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 logs your practice for you, no comments needed.

  1. Press Start from # whatever number it shows. It picks up where you stopped last time.

  2. Press Start, read the assignment, practice.

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

  4. Press Next practice item and go again.

Capped items count down and chime. Keep going if it's going well.

Some assignments finish. Printing, theory units, sight-reading pages and Four Star sets carry a Done for the Week button. Press it when the job is done and the assignment comes off your list. Technique and repertoire don't have one; those are every day.

Need the metronome, a recorder or the NFPER colors? They are in Practice Tools, right under the practice types. Tap one and it opens inside your assignment. Tap Close to put it away.

Got something to say about an assignment? Paste the line it gives you into the comments and add your note.

Log only what you actually did, on the day you did it. Five minutes is a real entry. Logging starts October 1.

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

[PRACTICE TOOLS]

Technique

All four, same method

  • Spotting counter, NFPER. Pick your focus first.

  • Three correct in a row, or five correct in total, and that focus is done.

  • Whatever you cross off, you carry with you into the next one.

  • No caps on these. Take the time they need.

  • Elbows in front of your body, wrist up, and don't drop the wrist on the thumb.

1. 🟩 Technical Requirements for Piano, Level 1 (RCM), C major, right hand

THIS WEEK: C major, right hand. Three correct in a row on every focus you pick.

2. 🟩 Technical Requirements for Piano, Level 1 (RCM), C major, left hand

THIS WEEK: C major, left hand. Three correct in a row on every focus you pick.

3. 🟩 Technical Requirements for Piano, Level 1 (RCM), A natural minor, right hand

THIS WEEK: A natural minor, right hand. Three correct in a row on every focus you pick.

4. 🟩 Technical Requirements for Piano, Level 1 (RCM), A natural minor, left hand

THIS WEEK: A natural minor, left hand. Three correct in a row on every focus you pick.

Theory

5. 🟩 Celebrate Theory, Preparatory Level, Unit 5 (RCM)

THIS WEEK: Pages 1 to 4, from the beginning of the unit.

⏱ Max 4 minutes per practice session.

  • Pages 1 to 4. Start from the beginning of the unit.

  • When the timer goes off, shut the book and move to the next assignment.

  • Finish the unit and press Done for the Week.

Musicianship

6. 🟩 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests, Level 1 (Berlin and Markow), Set 1

THIS WEEK: Days 1 through 5, one day per practice session.

No time limit. One day of the set per practice session, Days 1 through 5.

  • Star 1: play the intervals with the fingering that is written.

  • Star 2: clap four beats, then clap the rhythm. There is a test on this next lesson.

  • Star 3: study it first, then play it once and don't stop.

  • Use the book, not Newzik. The book stays in your binder.

After Day 5 the set is done. Press Done for the Week.

Repertoire

7. 🟩 Andante in G minor, from Fantasia in G minor, TWV 33:17 (Telemann)

THIS WEEK: Four measures at a time: right hand, left hand, then together.

⏱ Max 4 minutes per practice session.

  • Piano Repertoire, Level 1, page 7.

  • Four measures at a time: right hand, then left hand, then hands together.

  • Timer goes off, you're done. Pick up where you stopped next time.

8. 🟩 Heavenly Blue (Gerou)

THIS WEEK: Relearn from the beginning. Notes and fingering only.

⏱ Max 3 minutes per practice session.

  • Relearn from the beginning, three minutes at a time.

  • Notes and fingering only. Nothing else yet.

The Snake, all four chunks, same method

  • Page 41.

  • Spotting counter, NFPER. Three correct in a row, or five correct in total, for every focus you pick.

  • All of NFPER has to be done on the chunk before you leave it.

  • No caps on these.

9. 🟩 The Snake (Christopher), mm. 1-3, right hand

THIS WEEK: All of NFPER crossed off on this chunk before you leave it.

10. 🟩 The Snake (Christopher), mm. 3-5, left hand

THIS WEEK: All of NFPER crossed off on this chunk before you leave it.

11. 🟩 The Snake (Christopher), mm. 5-6, right hand

THIS WEEK: All of NFPER crossed off on this chunk before you leave it.

12. 🟩 The Snake (Christopher), mm. 6-7, left hand

THIS WEEK: All of NFPER crossed off on this chunk before you leave it.

How Many Times Through

Three full rotations of this whole list before your next lesson. Five would be better.

Short day? Make it up the next day or on the weekend.

RCM Certificate Program

Goal: Level 1, May-June 2027 exam session, at the National Opera Center.

You still need a List B piece. Andante is your A, The Snake is your C, Heavenly Blue is your etude.

Level 5 and up also requires a theory exam.

13. 🟧 Your List B piece

THIS WEEK: I'm bringing List B pieces for us to pick from next lesson.

Nothing for you to do on this one.

Books on Loan

Four studio books. No markings, they come back.

  • Technical Requirements for Piano, Level 1 (RCM)

  • Celebration Series, 6th ed., Piano Repertoire, Level 1

  • Celebration Series, 6th ed., Piano Etudes, Level 1

  • Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests, Level 1 (2015 Edition)

They live in Finn's Piano Binder. Back in the binder after every practice.

Coming Up

Group Class 1, Saturday October 17 or Sunday October 18. Let me know which one.