July 11, 2025

Practice Guide

❤️= Priority above all else (repeated issues or reglect).

💛= Priority after red (on the right track but needs more work).

💜= Item we did not do at the last lesson. Lesson priority before green.

💚= on the right track! Practice these items as usual but prioritize other colors first.

🖤= don’t practice this item (on hold).

Lesson Assignments

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

At the top of your music, write NFPER using the following color system:

  • N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟦 Blue)

  • F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟧 Orange)

  • P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟪 Purple)

  • E – Expression – dynamics, articulation (staccato, accents, slurs), etc. (🟩 Green)

  • R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟥 Red)

    • ✅ If you're only recording audio, just use NER.

Step-by-Step Practice Flow

  1. Record your section once — video is best, but audio is fine too.

  2. Listen back with one color/goal in mind.

  3. As you listen, mark your music using that color anywhere it needs improvement.

  4. Repeat for each remaining color, one at a time, until all five have been addressed.

  5. Choose a small “spot” section from your markings — just a few measures or a tricky passage.

  6. “Spot” until it’s solid and you can erase the markings! — meaning:

  • ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

  • ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

  • Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing the spot.

  • Use the troubleshooting checklist below if you're stuck.

🔧 Troubleshooting Tips

🎯 If you’ve tried to fix something three times in-a-row and it’s still not working, don’t just repeat it — troubleshoot:

  • Do you need to slow down?

  • Should you practice hands alone?

  • Could you make the spot even smaller?

  • Would technical exercises help (staccato, accents, etc.)?

  • Do you need to think ahead more clearly?

💚The Piano Man

  1. “Color-focus practice” the following sections:

    1. 1-8

    2. 8-15

    3. 15-22

    4. 23-28

💜Four_Star_01_02

  1. Complete the set before Monday the 23rd!

    1. Follow the practice video in Newzik. Do one “day” per practice session

    2. Please don’t do the sight-playing examples faster than m.m. 60 per quarter note.

💜RCM Technical Requirements Level 1

  1. Study and memorize the information (pattern of the major and minor scales) on page 2 of the PDF

  2. Practice C Major and A Minor, hands alone on page 5 of the PDF.

    1. Remember where you play finger 4 in each hand and it will help you remember the fingering of the scales.

💚Haydn German Dance in D Major

  1. Everyday assignment.

  2. Please play the A’s in the LH in measures 17 and 19

  3. Practice with metronome 88 (no faster)

💜Angelfish by Anne Crosby Gaudet (L. 1, List B)

  1. Review once a week with your music. Don’t spend much time on this.

💚The Snake by Renée Christopher (L. 1, List C)

  1. Be mindful of all of the expression in this piece.

  2. Practice starting from any measure.

💚Gavotte by Handel

  1. Review

🖤”LET’S GO BACK”

  1. See the new PDF in Newzik called “Let’s Go Back V1”

  2. Practice what’s written and propose any changes to the melody or lyrics.

  3. Start thinking about a melody and lyrics for the verses

🖤Sightreading_2A (MAX 5-8)

  1. Go to Newzik and access the “Sightreading” PDF.

  2. Complete at least page 4

  3. Main reason for this assignment is to practice the technique you learned on the black keys

#4🖤Johnny Bill by Oliver Manice

  1. Try to play the melody of the chorus on the piano for your next lesson.

#5🖤THEORY Level 1

  1. Finish reviewing unit 2 with Dustin at the lesson

Review List!

Once a week, review the following piece with your music.

  1. 💚What’s That Noise? By Martha Mier (b. 1936)

  2. 💚Barefoot on the Beach by Anne Crosby Gaudet (b. 1968)