September 6, 2026 (7 of 8 - in-person)

September 6, 2026 (7 of 8)

September 6, 2026 · 60 min · in person

Forward Wrist, Always in Motion

Logging — your first assignment

1. Log every practice item, every day. As soon as you finish working on one item, and before you move to the next, write it in the comment section of this post: the name of the item, then the minutes you spent. Then go on.

2. Item by item, not all at the end. "Sonatina in C major — 12 min," then move on.

3. You practiced the theory and the RCM melody playbacks this week and neither showed up, because neither was logged. If it isn't logged, it isn't in the record.

4. Logging officially starts October 1. Use September to build the habit.

5. We're running a studio competition for whoever is most consistent with daily logging, with a reward at a group class. It's about consistency, not who practices the most minutes.

Technique

🟩The Virtuoso Pianist, No. 1, by Charles-Louis Hanon (1819-1900)

1. Close-loud, hands together now — this changes from hands alone.

2. Only mm. 12–17: the third system of the first page, the last three measures of the ascent and the first three of the descent.

3. Also the last few measures of the exercise.

4. Left hand especially: the instant you hear the sound start, relax. If you keep pushing into the key, nothing moves.

5. Next lesson we start speed building.

🟪RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. We'll decide together which scales to work on — that's why this didn't get done, and that's fine. We'll sort it at the next lesson.

2. Write "NFPER" next to each item in Newzik. Focus on one or more at a time and check them off as you go. Slow tempo.

3. Keep the fingers close to the keys.

Theory

🟩Theory Level 3: Unit 8

1. Units 7 and 8 are both done — nice work getting ahead.

2. Still to do: study the musical terms and signs, the last two pages of the unit.

⬛️Theory Level 4

1. Listed so you know it's coming. Do not start this yet.

Musicianship

🟩Sight-Reading 2B

1. Complete pages 80–84 (the numbers written in the music).

🟩Four Star Level 3

1. Complete Set 9.

2. RCM Moodle melody playbacks: keep going, and log them. You did a lot of these and none of it was recorded.

Repertoire

🟩Minuet in G Minor, BWV Anh. 115, attr. Christian Petzold (1677-1733), from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (L. 3, A)

Expression — assignment

1. mm. 19–20, right hand only. Crescendo up to the high point of the slur, then decrescendo into the end of it. Marked in yellow highlight in your score.

2. Petzold did not write those dynamics in. The slur is what tells us we can do it — the shape of the musical thought.

3. The general rule, and it applies to other slurs too: at the end of a slur, get quieter.

4. Left hand stays as it is. This is a right-hand assignment.

5. Have a plan for every measure — crescendo, forte, staccato, detached, whatever it is. That planning is what makes the expression.

Sticky staccato (portato) — assignment

1. Blanket focus this week: forward wrist on every portato note. Always in motion.

2. The sound is often good already, but the wrist gets stuck for a moment, and that builds tension.

3. Use the same motion you found in Lemon Sherbet Rag: approach the note, then follow through.

4. m. 30 is where I hear it most. Watch that one particularly, but apply it everywhere.

Ornaments — assignment

Four ornament measures: mm. 8, 13, 15 and 31.

1. Faster and lighter. Think of each ornament as piano — softer than the notes around it. They'll come out about even, and they'll sound smoother.

2. Start with the wrist level with the white keys or slightly below, then drop forward.

3. Fingers round, almost hook-like, but relaxed — not tense. Firm fingertips.

4. Follow through, then release.

5. Right hand alone, 5 times correctly, each of the four measures. Then add the left hand. It may suddenly feel harder hands together — that's normal. Check that the wrist is still dropping once the hands are together.

6. An ornament can be played with tension, but it has a far greater chance of being inaccurate. Lightness and relaxation is what makes them reliable.

7. m. 7, last note. Don't cut the eighth note short in anticipation of the ornament in m. 8. Give it its full value, then go.

8. The ornament note is E-flat, not E-natural. We checked the harmony — the passage is moving to G, and a natural there would be cancelling the key signature for no reason. The flat is what you had; keep it.

Starting from random measures

1. Keep doing this — you should be able to begin anywhere in the piece, so it isn't only muscle memory.

2. Choose the measures yourself, including starting in the middle of a measure, not only on the downbeat. Pick the harder ones.

🟩Sonatina in A Minor, Op. 94, No. 4, first movement: Allegro moderato, by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

Notes, rhythm, position and fingering are all in good shape, and the portato is consistent throughout — that's a big thing out of the way. Expression is the whole focus now. One or two more lessons and this could be finished.

1. mm. 1 and 3, and the measures like them — assignment. Marked in orange highlight. The third beat of the left hand (the top note — the E in m. 1) is getting accented right as the right-hand eighth notes start. Play beat 3 softer in both hands. Think of the right hand starting softer too, and it fixes both at once.

2. m. 13 — the first forte. Stronger. It has to be louder than it is.

3. m. 14 — pop the wrist up. You're getting tense here. Forte does not mean tense: popping the wrist is what lets you play strongly and stay loose. Both hands, not just the right.

4. Getting tense while reaching for the correct notes is normal. Practice the passage relaxed and the right notes will follow — it doesn't work the other way round.

5. Take the diminuendo at the end of that section down properly. The contrast sets up the dolce section that follows.

6. m. 26 — poco ritardando, then a tempo at m. 27. This is where the theme comes back, and slowing a little exaggerates that return. You weren't doing the ritardando — make it clearly slower, then snap back.

7. mm. 31–33, and m. 34 — bigger sound overall. Unlock the left-hand wrist. Right now the sound goes up, down, up, down — keep it all up. Every note has a movement.

🟩Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

1. Go through the whole piece and make sure the wrist is always in motion. Never locked. Apply what we've been doing in Hanon and the Biehl — especially the Biehl.

2. There are still moments near the beginning where the wrist just stops. Those are the ones to catch.

3. Practice with the metronome at ♩ = 108, then 112, then 116.

🟩Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126, Anonymous, from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (1725) (L. 3, A)

1. Go through the whole piece and make sure the wrist is not locking anywhere. Loosen up the same way you do for the trills.

2. mm. 3 and 7 — approach the first note with a dropped wrist, exactly like the ornaments in the Minuet. Your attacks aren't always tidy here, and the drop-and-follow-through should fix that on its own.

3. Practice starting from three different random measures each practice session, sometimes from the middle of a measure rather than the downbeat.

🟪Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36, No. 1, first movement: Allegro, by Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) (L. 3, B)

Start your practice with this one. It got the least attention this week, so it goes first next week and we'll begin the lesson with it.

1. New: practice starting from three different random places each practice session.

2. mm. 9 and 11 — right hand, raise the wrist on the repeated quarter notes.

3. m. 3 left hand — be very careful coming off the rests.

4. Expressive decisions from the hierarchy of the beat. m. 1, for example: of the last two notes, which one is softer?

5. Keep the left-hand Alberti bass softer in mm. 9, 11, 32 and 34.

6. Next lesson we increase the tempo.

🟪The Stormy Sea by Anne Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

1. Come off with hand and foot quickly on the last note of the piece.

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚💚💚💚💛💚❤️
(53 points)

• ❤️ = 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

• 💚 = 3 POINTS

• 💛 = 2 POINTS

• 💜 = 1 POINT

• 🖤 = 0 POINTS

I Spy Practice Video

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO

Review List

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

• 🟩Etude in D Minor, Op. 82, No. 65, by Cornelius Gurlitt (1820-1901) (L. 2, Etude)

• 🟩Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23, by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

• 🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

• 🟩Farewell, Op. 98, No. 4, by Alexander Gretchaninoff (1864-1956) (L. 2, B)

• 💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

• 💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, Etude)

• 💚This Guy's Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

• 💚German Dance in D Major, Hob. IX:22, No. 2, by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

• 💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

• 💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

• 💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

• 💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

• 💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

• 💚Curious Cat

• 💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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 — meaning ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

7. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

8. 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?

August 28, 2026 (6 of 8)

August 29, 2026 (6 of 8)

Strong Attack, Immediate Release

Repertoire

🟩Minuet in G Minor, BWV Anh. 115, attr. Christian Petzold (1677-1733), from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Nice work — the fixes from last week are in place.

2. m. 24 LH - change the articulation to a slur. Play it legato.

3. Why: the RH is stagnant there, just sustaining one note. The LH suddenly takes over the movement, and it’s three stepwise motions. When one hand goes still, listen for where the motion moved to.

4. Right elbow - just check in with it this week. Put a post-it note on the piano that says “right elbow” if that helps. Be kind to your body, say hello to it, and we’ll keep an eye on it together.

5. 5 minutes of hands alone practice.

6. 3 minutes of starting from random measures - you should be able to begin anywhere in the piece. This keeps it from being only muscle memory.

7. Ornaments are our next step (not yet - just so you know what’s coming).

🟪Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

1. Fix m. 4 and last measure (see the audio in Newzik labeled mm. 3 and 4)

2. Practice with mm. 88, 96, and 104

🟪Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126, Anonymous, from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (1725) (L. 3, A)

1. Dynamics were so good!

2. Make the ending sound like more of an “ending” by gradually slowing down (subtle) and increasing the dynamic.

3. The rhythm needs to be rock solid in the LH. Just listen for this as you play it.

🟪Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36, No. 1, first movement: Allegro, by Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) (L. 3, B)

1. mm. 9 and 11 - RH raise wrist on repeated quarter notes.

2. m. 3 LH - be very careful about coming off rests.

3. Expressive decisions related to the hierarchy of the beat. M. 1 for example - the last two notes: which one is softer?

4. Keep the LH alberti bass in mm. 9, 11, 32, 34 - softer.

5. Next lesson increase tempo.

🟩Sonatina in A Minor, Op. 94, No. 4, first movement: Allegro moderato, by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Beautiful. The expression is sounding sensitive, the ends of your phrases are shaped and a little softer, and you did exactly what the blog asked for with the eighth-note motives. Good work.

2. mm. 18-19 LH - connect the C to the G. Imagine a slur over those notes. Start by practicing LH alone. Small thing, means a lot.

3. The note to watch is the lowest left-hand note on beat 1 — the bass note that starts the measure. This applies in mm. 1-4 and mm. 9-11, and everywhere those passages come back. You are sustaining that bass note for the full measure, as though it were written as a dotted half note. It isn’t. Hold it for roughly a half note’s worth, then release it — the rest of the measure should sound without it still ringing underneath.

4. To be clear about what this is not: this is not about the notes above it, and it is not about the right hand. It is only the bass note you put down on beat 1.

5. If you aren’t sure whether you’re doing it, play a measure and listen for whether that first bass note is still sounding when you arrive at beat 3. If it is, you’re holding too long. You can also practice it LH alone, deliberately lifting the finger on beat 3.

6. m. 42 is the clearest example in the whole piece: you hold that left-hand A all the way through into m. 43. Don’t. The small expressive hold exists to help the bass note carry, but we shouldn’t be able to notice you doing it.

7. Why it matters: you may get an RCM comment that these aren’t dotted half notes.

8. Forte practice - mm. 34, 36, and 50. For these, the attack comes from ABOVE the keyboard, with a forward wrist. Momentum into the keys is what gives you that crisp, suddenly-a-little-angry sound - and then it’s sweet again right after.

9. How to practice the above: start one measure before each one (so m. 33, m. 35, m. 49). Right hand alone, 5 times correctly each. Then add the left hand. It may suddenly feel like you never practiced it once hands are together - that’s normal. If it’s hard, slow down. That’s always the number one thing to do.

10. Why from above here, when close-loud is from the key? Context matters. These are detached notes moving immediately to another note, so coming off the key keeps you in motion. For a single sustained note where you’re staying put, from the key is usually the better choice - it’s not as harsh.

11. m. 45 was beautiful.

12. When you’re playing through, don’t stop to fix things. Treat every play-through as a little practice performance so you’re practicing not stopping when you make a mistake. (Your fix sounded great - just save it for practice.)

🟪The Stormy Sea by Anne Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

1. Come off with hand and foot quickly - last note of the piece.

Theory & Musicianship (move forward)

🟪Theory Level 3: Unit 7.

1. Complete the unit.

2. Self-check it first, then give it to your mom to double-check.

3. When you fix an error, mark where you fixed it - don’t just quietly correct it.

🟩Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 74-78 (numbers written in the music)

2. Excellent work - your preparation routine is solid. Keep talking yourself through key, dynamics, meter, then notes, then rhythm.

3. New challenge: make expression a priority in sight-reading too. Where you played it, the forte could have been louder and the piano quieter. Go for the contrast.

🟩Four Star Level 3

1. Complete Set 8.

2. New: log into the RCM Moodle portal and work on the melody playbacks. Go to the melody section, record yourself, then listen back while looking at the answer on the page, and grade yourself.

3. Both steps matter - you have to actively listen to your own recording against what you see. Just looking at the answer isn’t checking.

Technique

🟥The Virtuoso Pianist, No. 1, by Charles-Louis Hanon (1819-1900)

Know the pattern - don’t rely on muscle memory.

1. Ascending: start on your first note, skip up a 3rd, then step up to the interval of a 6th above where you started, then come back down a 5th.

2. The descending half is a mirror of that pattern - the same shape upside down. (It is not a retrograde - retrograde would be the pattern played exactly in reverse.)

3. Practice starting the pattern from different notes - B, then G, then anywhere. Once you truly know the pattern, you can play it across the whole keyboard and eventually transpose it to any key. That’s the fun part.

4. Don’t skip the last measure. This is the number one mistake people make in Hanon. The ending doesn’t continue the pattern on G - it finishes on A instead.

Close-loud - revised to hands alone.

1. 3 minutes right hand, 3 minutes left hand. Set a timer. Log it in your block as “Hanon - 6 minutes.”

2. No hands together for now. This is not about playing fast. Once you’re comfortable, we’ll go back to hands together and then move on.

3. The technique, step by step: fingertips never leave the key - it’s legato, always from the surface of the key, never from above. Hand in position 1. Strong attack from the key with a forward wrist. Then the instant you hear the sound start, relax - release the energy so you’re not still pushing down into the keys.

4. Two steps, every single note: strong attack, immediate release. If you’re focused on that for every note, you’ll stay engaged the whole time. The minute you stop focusing, close-loud becomes a waste of time.

5. You have to have some tension to play strongly - that’s fine. What we’re training is letting it go the instant after. That’s what builds endurance.

6. “Tidy attacks” means the notes sound at exactly the same moment as each other.

🟪RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Decide with Dustin which scales to work on (Thursday)

2. Write “NFPER” next to each item in Newzik. Focus on one or more at a time, and check them off as you go! Please do this as a slow tempo.

3. Please focus on close fingers to the keys.

⬛️Level 3 Pieces

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚💚💚💚💛💚❤️

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

🟩Etude in D Minor, Op. 82, No. 65, by Cornelius Gurlitt (1820-1901) (L. 2, Etude)

🟩Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23, by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

🟩Farewell, Op. 98, No. 4, by Alexander Gretchaninoff (1864-1956) (L. 2, B)

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major, Hob. IX:22, No. 2, by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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 — meaning ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

7. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

8. 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?

August 2, 2026 (5 of 8)

Position is Priority in All Assignments

Repertoire

🟩Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

1. m. 17 - finger 1 on C

2. m. 18 - detached quarter notes.

3. See the video inside Newzik for the trills and mordent practice.

4. All non-slurred quarter notes are detached.

5. Once you’ve fixed all above, practice hands together in small chunks, keeping the articulation as primary focus.

🟩Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

1. Fix m. 4 and last measure (see the audio in Newzik labeled mm. 3 and 4)

2. Practice with mm. 88, 96, and 104

🟪Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Dynamics were so good!

2. Make the ending sound like more of an “ending” by gradually slowing down (subtle) and increasing the dynamic.

3. The rhythm needs to be rock solid in the LH. Just listen for this as you play it.

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. mm. 9 and 11 - RH raise wrist on repeated quarter notes.

2. m. 3 LH - be very careful about coming off rests.

3. \Expressive decisions related to the hierachry of the beat. M. 1 for example - the last two notes: which one is softer?

4. Keep the LH alberti bass in mm. 9, 11, 32, 34 - softer.

5. Next lesson increase tempo.

🟪Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. The descending four-note 8th note motives: please don’t start them louder than the previous note. Example in m. 1. Keep the LH soft - don’t cresc. along with the RH.

🟪The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

1. Come off with hand and foot quickly - last note of the piece.

Theory & Musicianship (move forward)

🟪Theory Level 3: Unit 7.

1. Complete the unite

🟪Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 54-68 (numbers written in the music)

🟪Four Star Level 3

1. Finish Set 2-3

Technique

🟪Hanon No. 1

1. Do the wrist movements correctly before you put it hands together.

2. Do 3-5 min of close-loud each day. You can set a timer and have fun!

3. Tidy attacks

RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Decide with Dustin which scales to work on (Thursday)

2. Write “NFPER” next to each item in Newzik. Focus on one or more at a time, and check them off as you go! Please do this as a slow tempo.

3. Please focus on close fingers to the keys.

⬛️Level 3 Pieces

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚💚💚💚💛💚❤️

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, B)

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

July 16, 2026 (4 of 8)

Position is Priority in All Assignments

Repertoire

🟪Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

1. Fix all the purple markings.

🟩Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Dynamics were so good!

2. Make the ending sound like more of an “ending” by gradually slowing down (subtle) and increasing the dynamic.

3. The rhythm needs to be rock solid in the LH. Just listen for this as you play it.

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. Expressive decisions related to the hierachry of the beat. M. 1 for example - the last two notes: which one is softer?

2. Keep the LH alberti bass in mm. 9, 11, 32, 34 - softer.

3. Next lesson increase tempo.

🟩Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. The descending four-note 8th note motives: please don’t start them louder than the previous note. Example in m. 1. Keep the LH soft - don’t cresc. along with the RH.

🟩The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

1. Come off with hand and foot quickly - last note of the piece.

Theory & Musicianship

🟩Theory Level 3: Unit 7.

1. Complete the unite

🟩Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 54-68 (numbers written in the music)

🟩Four Star Level 3

1. Finish Set 2-3

Technique

🟩Hanon No. 1

1. Do the wrist movements correctly before you put it hands together.

RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Decide with Dustin which scales to work on (Thursday)

2. Write “NFPER” next to each item in Newzik. Focus on one or more at a time, and check them off as you go! Please do this as a slow tempo.

3. Please focus on close fingers to the keys.

⬛️Level 3 Pieces

1. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚💚💚💚💛💚❤️

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, B)

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

July 12, 2026 (3 of 8)

Position is Priority in All Assignments

Repertoire

🟩Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

1. Fix all the purple markings.

🟪🟪Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Your position is much improved!

2. M. 17 - start very slowly and do the exercise playing very close to the keys using your wrist to rock to the notes. Gradually speed up.

🟩🟪Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. Focus on relaxation techniques now.

   1. Take the opportunity on long notes to keep the wrist and elbow supple.

   2. When you play softly, keep a focus on your fingering being curved.

2. For the rest of your 30% practice, use metronome 60, 66, and 72 as benchmark.

🟪🟪Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Wow so much better!

2. m. 37 - clean pedal and please change your position - keep wrist low, thumb further up on the key and on its side.

3. smooth wrist mm. 23-27

🟩🟪The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

1. m. 4, 12, 28, 36 - please do the decrescendo

2. Please follow the video below

Theory & Musicianship

🟨Theory Level 3: Unit 6 Intervals.

1. Double check your work and correct any issues with accidentals and labeling.

2. Use flash cards for key signatures up to three sharps and two flats (major and minor)

   1. Practice using both sides of the cards.

🟩Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 51-53 (numbers written in the music)

🟩Four Star Level 3

1. Finish Set 1

Technique

🟩Hanon No. 1

1. Learn the pattern hands alone, focusing on fingers round and close to the keys. Gently lower and raise your wrist along with the direction of the notes. We will learn hands together on Thursday.

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Decide with Dustin which scales to work on (Thursday)

2. Write “NFPER” next to each item in Newzik. Focus on one or more at a time, and check them off as you go! Please do this as a slow tempo.

3. Please focus on close fingers to the keys.

⬛️Level 3 Pieces

1. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚💚💚💚💛💚❤️

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, B)

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

June 28, 2026 (2 of 8)

Position is Priority in All Assignments

Repertoire

🟩Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

1. Fix the rhythm in m. 14

2. m. 13 - drop into the key (tap) with forward wrists: Follow the practice video below.

🟪Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Your position is much improved!

2. M. 17 - start very slowly and do the exercise playing very close to the keys using your wrist to rock to the notes. Gradually speed up.

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. Focus on relaxation techniques now.

   1. Take the opportunity on long notes to keep the wrist and elbow supple.

   2. When you play softly, keep a focus on your fingering being curved.

2. For the rest of your 30% practice, use metronome 60, 66, and 72 as benchmark.

🟪Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Wow so much better!

2. m. 37 - clean pedal and please change your position - keep wrist low, thumb further up on the key and on its side.

3. smooth wrist mm. 23-27

🟩The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

1. m. 4, 12, 28, 36 - please do the decrescendo

2. Please follow the video below

Theory & Musicianship

🟩Theory Level 3: Unit 6 Intervals.

1. Complete the entire unit.

2. Use flash cards for key signatures up to three sharps and two flats (major and minor)

3. Practice using both sides of the cards.

🟨Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 39-43 (numbers written in the music)

🟨Four Star Level 3

1. Finish Review Set 1

2. Complete Review Set 2

Technique

🟪RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Prepare pages 9-12

2. Write “NFPER” next to each item in Newzik. Focus on one or more at a time, and check them off as you go! Please do this as a slow tempo.

3. Please focus on close fingers to the keys.

⬛️Level 3 Pieces

1. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚💚💚💚💛

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, B)

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

June 21, 2026 (8 of 8) (actually 1 of 8, taking 1 from Genevieve)

Position is Priority in All Assignments

Repertoire

🟩Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

1. Learn the rest of the piece in two-beat chunks, focusing on articulation and the way your wrist helps you achieve this.

🟩Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Your position is much improved!

2. M. 17 - start very slowly and do the exercise playing very close to the keys using your wrist to rock to the notes. Gradually speed up.

🟪Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. This is much better! Don’t forget to keep focused on rhythm this week and remember that about 70% of your practice should be slow to medium tempos.

2. For the rest of your 30% practice, use metronome 60, 66, and 72 as benchmark.

🟩Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Wow so much better!

2. m. 37 - clean pedal and please change your position - keep wrist low, thumb further up on the key and on its side.

3. smooth wrist mm. 23-27

🟪The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

1. mm. 5-8 - make the LH chords softer than the rh. The RH should be really strong here. The pedal is also a bit muddy. Make sure to change all the way.

2. Added dynamics in green - mm. 17-24. Also, make the first note of each measure the melody. So bring it out slightly above the others - make the others softer.

Theory & Musicianship

🟨Theory Level 3: Unit 4

1. Self-check pg. 45

2. Use flash cards for key signatures up to three sharps and two flats (major and minor)

🟩Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 39-43 of the next PDF

🟩Four Star Level 3

1. Prepare Review Set 1

Technique

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Prepare pages 9-12

2. Write “NFPER” next to each item in Newzik. Focus on one or more at a time, and check them off as you go! Please do this as a slow tempo.

3. Please focus on close fingers to the keys.

⬛️Level 3 Pieces

1. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚💚💚💚💛

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, B)

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

June 11, 2026 (7 of 8)

Position is Priority in All Assignments

Repertoire

🟩Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

1. See the videos sent to MB.

2. Use the NFPER Practice Charts for this piece (see videos).

🟩Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Your position is much improved!

2. Small expression fix - more contrast between f mp mf p

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. This is much better! Don’t forget to keep focused on rhythm this week and remember that about 70% of your practice should be slow to medium tempos.

2. For the rest of your 30% practice, use metronome 60, 66, and 72 as benchmark.

🟩Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Wow so much better!

2. m. 37 - do the rit and decrescendo

3. mm. 6-7 make sure LH articulation (legato / staccato) is consistent. It’s sometimes short in m. 6 and sometimes not. Make m. 6 legato and m. 7 staccato.

4. Fix the above and continue to focus on position (RH fingers 2-3 still need curving) but this is really so much better.

🟩The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

1. mm. 5-8 - make the LH chords softer than the rh. The RH should be really strong here. The pedal is also a bit muddy. Make sure to change all the way.

2. Added dynamics in green - mm. 17-24. Also, make the first note of each measure the melody. So bring it out slightly above the others - make the others softer.

Theory & Musicianship

🟪Theory Level 3: Unit 4

1. Look at pages 45-46 to fix the key signatures.

2. Use flash cards for key signatures up to two sharps and two flats.

🟩Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 36-40 of the next PDF

Technique

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Prepare pages 7 and 8

2. Write “NFPER” next to each item in Newzik. Focus on one or more at a time, and check them off as you go! Please do this as a slow tempo.

⬛️Level 3 Pieces

1. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚💚💚💚💛

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, B)

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

June 4, 2026 (6 of 8)

Position is Priority in All Assignments

Repertoire

🟪Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Please have a forward-motion wrist on the A in RH finger 5 in mm. 1-2 and others like it.

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. Daniel - this is very serious. Your position needs to get better or your pieces will eventually become too difficult for you. A

   1. Fingers ROUND and CLOSE TO THE KEYS

   2. Do not drop WRIST when you play your thumb (usually when crossing over or under fingers).

   3. Set metronome to 60: Razor sharp focus on keeping wrist up, fingers extremely close to the keys (gliding across) and steady wrist when you cross over / under fingers. The thumb should also be relaxed and careful not to stick out.

🟩Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Please work on making your fingers curved. They are still collapsed!

2. Please see all the red pen. There is a lot! Mostly for expression and position.

🟩The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

1. Write the chords in mm. 21-23

2. See all the red pen.

3. Measures 3-4 - keep LH wrist up and arch LH to cross over playing finger 2

4. Measures 1-4 and all other similar sections: use one pedal (don’t change). Start much softer in m. 1 and all other beginning measures like it.

5. Measures 13-16, 29-32, and 37-39: LH forward wrist.

6. Measures 17-24: keep wrists up and fingers close to the keys.

Theory & Musicianship

🟩Theory Level 3: Unit 4

1. Complete the entire unit.

🟩Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 30-34 of the next PDF

Technique

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Prepare pages 5 and 6

2. Write “NFPER” next to each item in Newzik. Focus on one or more at a time, and check them off as you go! Please do this as a slow tempo.

⬛️Level 3 Pieces

1. Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

2. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

3. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

4. in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚💚💚💚💛

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, B)

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

May 28, 2026 (4.75 of 8)

Final Recital

May 30th, 2:00 pm

Lesson Assignments

Level 3 RCM Material

⬛️RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Prepare pages 11 and 12.

🟩Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Please have a forward-motion wrist on the A in RH finger 5 in mm. 1-2 and others like it.

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. Hold the RH chord for its full value in m. 23

2. Change the fingering in mm. 22-23 (red pen)

3. Aim for slower practice (around 46 per quarter) with a razor sharp focus on keeping wrist up, fingers extremely close to the keys (gliding across) and steady wrist when you cross over / under fingers. The thumb should also be relaxed and careful not to stick out.

🟩Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. m. 37 - please slow down slightly - poco rit.

2. Measure 45 - please remember to play all LH notes here. You were missing the last three.

🟩The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

1. Measures 1-3 and others like them - down-stem notes are LH and up-stem notes are RH.

2. How do we end phrases? Remember how we’ve played them in your other pieces? Relax the ending of a phrase in terms of dynamic level.

3. Practice playing the chords blocked in mm. 17-23 before you play them as written.

4. Finish learning the piece.

⬛️Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 25-30 of the next PDF

⬛️Theory Level 3: Unit 3

1. Corrected / made some notes in theory

For Recital

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

You can paraphrase the info below:

• Cornelius Gurlitt was born in 1820. This piece is called an “etude,” which is a type of piece designed to teach the performer a specific technical or musical skill. In this etude, the challenge is to play repeated notes quickly and softly throughout the piece while the left hand carries the melody.

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

You can paraphrase the info below:

• The next piece is by a very famous composer named Beethoven! Schroeder from Peanuts absolutely worships Beethoven! I’m not playing Für Elise today, but instead a piece called Ecossaise. An ecossaise is a Scottish dance, and this one is very fun to play!

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

You can paraphrase the info below:

• This piece is kind of like an “etude” because it taught me how to play triplets, which means fitting three equal notes into one beat—and playing them very quickly! The expression in this piece makes the story feel sneaky, playful, and full of surprises.

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, B)

You can paraphrase the info below:

• Aleksandr Grechaninov was a Russian composer who wrote many beautiful piano pieces for students. This piece is called Farewell, and it sounds calm, emotional, and a little sad—like saying goodbye to someone before a long trip. Playing this piece taught me how to make the melody sing and how to use dynamics to make the music more expressive.

Other Assignments

🟩Improvisation Assignment: Making up our own melodies

1. With Dustin at the lesson (for now)

2. Identify a scale

3. Identify two triads (tonic / dominant)

4. Improvise a melody within each chord with a limited amount of notes.

5. Begin and end on the tonic or root of the triad.

🟩Level 3 Pieces

1. Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

2. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

3. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

4. in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚💚💚💚

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

May 14, 2026 (4 of 8)

Final Recital

May 30th, 2:00 pm

Lesson Assignments

Level 3 RCM Material

⬛️RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Prepare pages 11 and 12.

🟩Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Measures 2-3 - please minimize the time between the last note of m. 2 and first note of m. 3. Practice this by playing only those two notes, then expand to two measures.

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. Smooth out the notes in m. 16-19

2. More march-like from the very beginning - more sound!

🟩Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Measures 24 and 26 - please do play through the LH rests.

2. Measure 45 - please remember to play all LH notes here. You were missing the last three.

⬛️Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 25-30 of the next PDF

⬛️Theory Level 3: Unit 3

1. Corrected / made some notes in theory

RCM Level 2 Exam Material

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 2

1. Keep doing close-loud. This is improving your technique a lot!

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

1. Think about your RH position - sometimes the transitions in the last two systems are a little rocky because your you a bit too far “down” (close to the edges of the keys) on the keyboard.

2. Otherwise - excellent!

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

1. I love the expression this week! However, your body is getting tense so please think about moving arms and wrists more when you change your dynamics so that you stay in-motion. We don’t want your wrists to lock which results in poor sound and sometimes incorrect notes.

2. In the B section: I appreciate you bringing out the bottom notes out but please keep the top notes (in the LH) present.

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

1. This is sounding great. Please practice starting from random measures.

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, C)

1. This is also sounding great! Please practice starting from random measures.

🟩Sight-reading: Four_Star_03_Tests.

1. Do one of these per day.

2. Work your way from left to right in terms of studying what’s in the music,

3. Ta the rhythm in your mind after you have established the scale and time signature.

🟩Musicianship Level 2

• Clapback:

• Playback:

• Intervals:

• Chords

Other Assignments

🟩Improvisation Assignment: Making up our own melodies

1. With Dustin at the lesson (for now)

2. Identify a scale

3. Identify two triads (tonic / dominant)

4. Improvise a melody within each chord with a limited amount of notes.

5. Begin and end on the tonic or root of the triad.

🟩Level 3 Pieces

1. Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

2. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

3. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

4. in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

May 6, 2026 (3 of 8)

Final Recital

May 30th, 2:00 pm

Lesson Assignments

Level 3 RCM Material

⬛️RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Prepare pages 11 and 12.

🟪Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Review

🟪Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. Review at m.m. 60 with a focus in even 8th notes. Keep hand round / bubble / fingers curved.

🟪Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Review at m.m. 60 with a focus on even notes and dynamics.

⬛️Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 25-30 of the next PDF

⬛️Theory Level 3: Unit 3

1. Corrected / made some notes in theory

RCM Level 2 Exam Material

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 2

1. Do one round of close-loud for each item.

2. Don’t drop wrists when you play your thumbs.

3. Triads: please play further up in the keys so you don’t suddenly move in and out of the black keys.

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

1. So good - but we forgot the decrescendo and rit. at the end.

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

1. Work expression in section B - RH upbeat softer and strong bass notes. Staccato notes at the end. Even 16ths.

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

1. Slight rit. on the three chords of the climax (m. 16). Even more expression! Strive for totally even triplets.

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, C)

1. Take more time before you begin. Focus on the first four measures of the piece. Practice not looking out the window while you play.

🟨Sight-reading: Four_Star_02_Tests, then move to Level 3.

1. Do at least two of these per day.

2. Work your way from left to right in terms of studying what’s in the music,

3. Ta the rhythm in your mind after you have established the scale and time signature.

🟩Musicianship Level 2

• Clapback:

• Playback:

• Intervals:

• Chords

Other Assignments

🟩Improvisation Assignment: Making up our own melodies

1. With Dustin at the lesson (for now)

2. Identify a scale

3. Identify two triads (tonic / dominant)

4. Improvise a melody within each chord with a limited amount of notes.

5. Begin and end on the tonic or root of the triad.

🟩Level 3 Pieces

1. Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

2. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

3. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

4. in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

May 2, 2026 (Group Class In-Person)

Final Recital

May 30th, 2:00 pm

Group Class

May 2nd / 3rd

Lesson Assignments

Group Class

I Spy - much more expression!

Level 3 RCM Material

🟪RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Prepare pages 11 and 12.

🟪Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. m. 9 - LH: please don’t slur the notes. Each LH 8th staccato.

2. This is sounding great! Expression is so much better.

3. Memorize!

🟪Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. This assignment will take longer to accomplish than your other assignments.

2. Speed-build to m.m. 72 per half note (final is 84 at minimum).

3. Do this small chunks, starting at a slower tempo, then increase gradually as you are able to play the sections correctly.

🟪Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Bueno!

2. Measure 21: LH, don’t make the highlited note staccato. Connect it to the LH in the next meausre.

3. Last system of the piece: hold the highlighted quarter notes for their full value.

🟪Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 25-30 of the next PDF

🟪 Theory Level 3: Unit 3

1. Corrected / made some notes in theory

RCM Level 2 Exam Material

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 2

1. Focus on formula patterns.

2. Strive for even sound!

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

1. We can’t have accents in this piece. Focus on smooth crescendo and decrescendo in the LH. The RH needs to be smooth and NOT participate in the dynamic changes.

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

1. Please activate your wrists to be more flexible. Your hands are tense and it makes the notes muffled and sometimes not speak! 👻notes. :) Bigger contrast in dynamics.

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

1. The triples are slightly uneven. Think of them as lighter (weight and sound). Don’t scoot on your bench to get to a higher register. Clean up the notes in mm. 15-16. Same comment as Ecossaise: keep wrist flexible - start your triplets in a lower position so you can follow through by raising the wrist.

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, C)

1. m. 8 - don’t cheat the full value of the note. In mm. 15-16 please do the rit. The “rall.” at the end (last two measures) is too much. Slow down just a bit here.

🟥Sight-reading

1. This is your weakest assignment today - check the key signature, rhythm, and make sure you’re doing all the expression!

🟩Musicianship Level 2

• Clapback:

  • Please clap loudly. Don’t give them an excuse to misunderstand your rhythm.

• Playback:

  • Good.

• Intervals:

  • Good.

• Chords

  • Good.

Other Assignments

🟩Improvisation Assignment: Making up our own melodies

1. With Dustin at the lesson (for now)

2. Identify a scale

3. Identify two triads (tonic / dominant)

4. Improvise a melody within each chord with a limited amount of notes.

5. Begin and end on the tonic or root of the triad.

🟩Level 3 Pieces

1. Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

2. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

3. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

4. in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

April 30, 2026 (2 of 8)

Final Recital

May 30th, 2:00 pm

Group Class

May 2nd / 3rd

Lesson Assignments

Level 3 RCM Material

🟪RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Prepare pages 11 and 12.

🟪Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. m. 9 - LH: please don’t slur the notes. Each LH 8th staccato.

2. This is sounding great! Expression is so much better.

3. Memorize!

🟪Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. This assignment will take longer to accomplish than your other assignments.

2. Speed-build to m.m. 72 per half note (final is 84 at minimum).

3. Do this small chunks, starting at a slower tempo, then increase gradually as you are able to play the sections correctly.

🟪Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Bueno!

2. Measure 21: LH, don’t make the highlited note staccato. Connect it to the LH in the next meausre.

3. Last system of the piece: hold the highlighted quarter notes for their full value.

🟪Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 25-30 of the next PDF

🟪 Theory Level 3: Unit 3

1. Corrected / made some notes in theory

RCM Level 2 Exam Material

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 2

1. Focus on formula patterns.

2. Strive for even sound!

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

1. We can’t have accents in this piece. Focus on smooth crescendo and decrescendo in the LH. The RH needs to be smooth and NOT participate in the dynamic changes.

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

1. Please activate your wrists to be more flexible. Your hands are tense and it makes the notes muffled and sometimes not speak! 👻notes. :) Bigger contrast in dynamics.

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

1. The triples are slightly uneven. Think of them as lighter (weight and sound). Don’t scoot on your bench to get to a higher register. Clean up the notes in mm. 15-16. Same comment as Ecossaise: keep wrist flexible - start your triplets in a lower position so you can follow through by raising the wrist.

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, C)

1. m. 8 - don’t cheat the full value of the note. In mm. 15-16 please do the rit. The “rall.” at the end (last two measures) is too much. Slow down just a bit here.

🟥Sight-reading

1. This is your weakest assignment today - check the key signature, rhythm, and make sure you’re doing all the expression!

🟩Musicianship Level 2

• Clapback:

  • Please clap loudly. Don’t give them an excuse to misunderstand your rhythm.

• Playback:

  • Good.

• Intervals:

  • Good.

• Chords

  • Good.

Other Assignments

🟩Improvisation Assignment: Making up our own melodies

1. With Dustin at the lesson (for now)

2. Identify a scale

3. Identify two triads (tonic / dominant)

4. Improvise a melody within each chord with a limited amount of notes.

5. Begin and end on the tonic or root of the triad.

🟩Level 3 Pieces

1. Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

2. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

3. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

4. in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

April 23, 2026 (1 of 8)

Final Recital

May 30th, 2:00 pm

Group Class

May 2nd / 3rd

Lesson Assignments

🟩Improvisation Assignment: Making up our own melodies

1. With Dustin at the lesson (for now)

2. Identify a scale

3. Identify two triads (tonic / dominant)

4. Improvise a melody within each chord with a limited amount of notes.

5. Begin and end on the tonic or root of the triad.

🟩Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. m. 9 - LH: please don’t slur the notes. Each LH 8th staccato.

2. This is sounding great! Expression is so much better.

3. Memorize!

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. This assignment will take longer to accomplish than your other assignments.

2. Speed-build to m.m. 72 per half note (final is 84 at minimum).

3. Do this small chunks, starting at a slower tempo, then increase gradually as you are able to play the sections correctly.

🟪Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Bueno!

2. Measure 21: LH, don’t make the highlited note staccato. Connect it to the LH in the next meausre.

3. Last system of the piece: hold the highlighted quarter notes for their full value.

🟪Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 25-30 of the next PDF

🟪RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Prepare pages 11 and 12.

🟪RCM Technical Requirements: Level 2

1. Work on position (no fingers collapsed) and fix B-flat Major scales

🟩Four Star Level 2: RCM Ear Training Online Tool

• The following are notes after working through some examples with Daniel at the lesson:

• Rhythm Notes:

  • Don’t worry if your claps don’t line up EXACTLY with the orange dots (after you record when you see it displayed)

  • Clap loudly and closer to the iPad.

• Melody Notes:

  • When you do the playback recordings, try to get the rhythm of the melody as well.

• Intervals:

  • Only listen to the interval played one time before you select an anwer.

• Chords

  • No issues here! 🎉

🟪 Theory Level 3: Unit 3

1. Corrected / made some notes in theory

🟪Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

1. Review by starting from random measures.

2. Make sure the the peak of the crescendo is NOT and accent.

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

1. One position issue with the LH. in m. 3. Please curve the 3rd finger on the F-sharp (highlighted in blue)

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. Today there were some note issues but it seemed like they weren’t consistent mistakes

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, C)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. Expression is focus.

🟩Level 3 Pieces

1. Lemon Sherbet Rag by Barbara Arents (L. 3, C)

2. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

3. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

4. in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker:

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️💚

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

April 16, 2026 (8 of 8)

Final Recital

May 30th, 2:30 pm

Group Class

May 2nd / 3rd

Lesson Assignments

🟥Mary Beth please talk with Danial about doing level 2 now or waiting to do level 3 later

🟩Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. All LH 8th notes are staccato.

2. RH m. 1 and others alike: let go of the last note (D) in the group of 16ths. Don’t connect it to the next measure.

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. This week, focus on the the dynamics. Try to make a better contrast between forte and piano.

🟩Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Bueno!

2. Measure 21: LH, don’t make the highlited note staccato. Connect it to the LH in the next meausre.

3. Last system of the piece: hold the highlighted quarter notes for their full value.

🟩Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 25-30 of the next PDF

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Prepare pages 11 and 12.

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 2

1. Work on position (no fingers collapsed) and fix B-flat Major scales

🟩Four Star Level 2: RCM Ear Training Online Tool

• The following are notes after working through some examples with Daniel at the lesson:

• Rhythm Notes:

  • Don’t worry if your claps don’t line up EXACTLY with the orange dots (after you record when you see it displayed)

  • Clap loudly and closer to the iPad.

• Melody Notes:

  • When you do the playback recordings, try to get the rhythm of the melody as well.

• Intervals:

  • Only listen to the interval played one time before you select an anwer.

• Chords

  • No issues here! 🎉

🟩🟪 Theory Level 3: Unit 3

1. Corrected / made some notes in theory

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

1. Review by starting from random measures.

2. Make sure the the peak of the crescendo is NOT and accent.

🟪🟪 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

🟪🟪I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

🟪🟪Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, C)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

🟪Level 3 Pieces

1. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

2. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

3. Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker:

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡❤️

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

April 9, 2026 (7 of 8)

Final Recital

May 30th, 2:30 pm

Group Class

May 2nd / 3rd

Lesson Assignments

Mary Beth please talk with Danial about doing level 2 now or waiting to do level 3 later

🟩Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

1. Start to learn!

2. Create questions about the piece (theory-style). At least 10.

3. Then start to learn in chunks with the NFPER method, hands alone, then together.

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. One more week of focus on position: including round fingers, 5th finger position.

2. m. 28-29, 32 & 34 - RH 5th finger position up and shorter notes (quarter notes).

3. m. 26 - scale technque position in the RH - don’t drop or twist wrist when paying the thumb.

4. “spot practice” m. 30

5. m. 23 do the piano marking.

🟩Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. 🟥m. 37: three things

   1. Timing: slow down gradually (see the recording labled 36-38 timing in Newzik)

   2. Rest: RH has a rest.

   3. Pedal: See the new pedal markings.

🟩Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 20-25 of the next PDF

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Page 10: prepare the chords.

2. 🟨B-flat Major - fix fingering

3. Continue to teach your muscle memory:

   1. Keep your wrist up when you play thumbs.

   2. Fingers Round

   3. Smooth Sound

🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 2

1. Work on position (no fingers collapsed) and fix B-flat Major scales

🟩Four Star Level 2: RCM Ear Training Online Tool

• The following are notes after working through some examples with Daniel at the lesson:

• Rhythm Notes:

  • Don’t worry if your claps don’t line up EXACTLY with the orange dots (after you record when you see it displayed)

  • Clap loudly and closer to the iPad.

• Melody Notes:

  • When you do the playback recordings, try to get the rhythm of the melody as well.

• Intervals:

  • Only listen to the interval played one time before you select an anwer.

• Chords

  • No issues here! 🎉

🟨 Theory Level 3: Unit 3

1. Self-correct any rhythmic issues in your theory (strong / weak idea)

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

1. Review by starting from random measures.

2. Make sure the the peak of the crescendo is NOT and accent.

🟪 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

🟪I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

🟪Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, C)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

Level 3 Pieces

1. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

2. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

3. Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker:

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️🧡

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

April 3, 2026 (6 of 8)

Final Recital

May 30th, 2:30 pm

Group Class

May 2nd / 3rd

Lesson Assignments

Mary Beth please talk with Danial about doing level 2 now or waiting to do level 3 later

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. Start learning in small chunks, hands alone and hands together.

2. mm. 9 and 11 - look out for 5th finger position RH.

3. mm. 24 to the end, write in all the expressive markings in blue pen (use the exposition as a guide).

4. Learn mm. 24 to the end.

🟩Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. 🟥Please avoid playing on the side of your RH 5th finger - especially in m. 32

2. m. 37 - timing. (see the recording labled 36-38 timing in Newzik)

3. mm. 32-35 - RH should have as much or more strength than the LH. The LH is overpowering.

🟩Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 20-25 of the next PDF

🟨RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Page 10: prepare the chords.

2. 🟥B-flat Major - fix fingering

3. Teach your muscle memory:

   1. Keep your wrist up when you play thumbs.

   2. Fingers Round

   3. Smooth Sound

🟨RCM Technical Requirements: Level 2

1. Work on position (no fingers collapsed) and fix B-flat Major scales

🟩Four Star Level 2: RCM Ear Training Online Tool

• The following are notes after working through some examples with Daniel at the lesson:

• Rhythm Notes:

  • Don’t worry if your claps don’t line up EXACTLY with the orange dots (after you record when you see it displayed)

  • Clap loudly and closer to the iPad.

• Melody Notes:

  • When you do the playback recordings, try to get the rhythm of the melody as well.

• Intervals:

  • Only listen to the interval played one time before you select an anwer.

• Chords

  • No issues here! 🎉

🟥 Theory Level 3

1. Daniel’s job to have theory ready at the lesson before we start.

2. Unit 3: Complete the unit (find the unit)

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

1. Review by starting from random measures.

2. Make sure the the peak of the crescendo is NOT and accent.

🟪 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

🟪I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

🟪Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, C)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

Level 3 Pieces

1. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

2. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

3. Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker:

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

March 27, 2026 (5 of 8)

Group Class

1. Etude in D Minor: memorized - excellent!

2. Sonatina in A Minor: used music

Lesson Assignments

Mary Beth please talk with Danial about doing level 2 now or waiting to do level 3 later

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. Start learning in small chunks, hands alone and hands together.

2. mm. 9 and 11 - look out for 5th finger position RH.

3. mm. 24 to the end, write in all the expressive markings in blue pen (use the exposition as a guide).

4. Learn mm. 24 to the end.

🟩Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. 🟥Please avoid playing on the side of your RH 5th finger - especially in m. 32

2. m. 37 - timing. (see the recording labled 36-38 timing in Newzik)

3. mm. 32-35 - RH should have as much or more strength than the LH. The LH is overpowering.

🟩Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 13-18 of the next PDF

🟥RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. Before each scale: speak out loud - the key signature and where each finger 4 goes.

   1. Practice hands alone each scale

🟨RCM Technical Requirements: Level 2

1. Work on position (no fingers collapsed) and fix B-flat Major scales

🟪Four Star Level 2: RCM Ear Training Online Tool

• The following are notes after working through some examples with Daniel at the lesson:

• Rhythm Notes:

  • Don’t worry if your claps don’t line up EXACTLY with the orange dots (after you record when you see it displayed)

  • Clap loudly and closer to the iPad.

• Melody Notes:

  • When you do the playback recordings, try to get the rhythm of the melody as well.

• Intervals:

  • Only listen to the interval played one time before you select an anwer.

• Chords

  • No issues here! 🎉

🟥 Theory Level 3

1. Unit 3: Complete the unit

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

1. Review by starting from random measures.

2. Make sure the the peak of the crescendo is NOT and accent.

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, C)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

Level 3 Pieces

1. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

2. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

3. Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker:

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚❤️

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?

March 19, 2026 (4 of 8)

Group Class

1. Etude in D Minor: memorized - excellent!

2. Sonatina in A Minor: used music

Lesson Assignments

Mary Beth please talk with Danial about doing level 2 now or waiting to do level 3 later

🟩Sonatina in C Major, op. 36 no. 1, Allegro by Muzio Clementi (L. 3, B)

1. Start learning in small chunks, hands alone and hands together.

2. Be prepared to talk to me about the structure of the piece - where is part one (exposition) part two (development) part three (recapitulation).

🟩Sonatina in A Minor op. 94, no. 4, Allegro moderato by Albert Biehl (L. 3, B)

1. Please avoid playing on the side of your RH 5th finger.

2. Measure 45 - please listen to the recording in Newzik for the correct timing.

🟩Sight-reading 2B

1. Complete pages 5-8 of the next PDF

🟨RCM Technical Requirements: Level 3

1. 🟥Redo D harmonic minor - note issues

2. Prepare:

   1. B-flat Major

   2. G melodic minor

🟪RCM Technical Requirements: Level 2

1. Review all technical items at their final tempo.

🟩Four Star Level 2: RCM Ear Training Online Tool

• The following are notes after working through some examples with Daniel at the lesson:

• Rhythm Notes:

  • Don’t worry if your claps don’t line up EXACTLY with the orange dots (after you record when you see it displayed)

  • Clap loudly and closer to the iPad.

• Melody Notes:

  • When you do the playback recordings, try to get the rhythm of the melody as well.

• Intervals:

  • Only listen to the interval played one time before you select an anwer.

• Chords

  • No issues here! 🎉

🟩 Theory Level 3

1. Unit 3: Complete the unit

🟩Etude in D Minor op. 82, no. 65 (L. 2, Etude)

1. Review by starting from random measures.

2. Make sure the the peak of the crescendo is NOT and accent.

🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 2, C)

1. Review by practicing starting from any measure of the piece.

2. POSITION IS FOCUS

Level 3 Pieces

1. The Stormy Sea by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 3, C)

2. Minuet in G Minor BWV Anh. 115 by Christian Petzold (L. 3, A)

3. Musette in D Major, BWV Anh. 126 attr. Johann Sebastian Bach (L. 3, A)

Focus Tracker:

💚💚💛💛💚💛💜❤️💚💚💜❤️💚💜❤️🖤❤️❤️💚💚💚💚💚❤️💚💚🖤🧡💚💚💚💚🧡💚

(53 points)

❤️= 4 POINTS (+ bonus = no reminders)

💚= 3 POINTS

💛= 2 POINTS

💜= 1 POINT

🖤= 0 POINTS

HERE IS THE LINK TO I SPY PRACTICE VIDEO
https://www.videoask.com/f034bc97a

REVIEW LIST

Review the pieces on this list, with your music, one time each week.

💚Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) (L. 1, C)

💚Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) (L. 1 Etude)

💚This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (L. 1, B)

💚German Dance in D Major Hob. IX:22, no. 2 by Franz Jospeh Haydn (1732-1809) (L. 1, A)

💜Looking-Glass River by Nancy & Randall Faber (Prep. B)

💚Raptors by Kevin Olson (Prep. B)

💚New Shoes by Linda Niamath (Prep B)

💚The Lively Boy (Prep A)

💚Leaping the Waves with Dolphins (Prep B)

💚Curious Cat

💚Marching by Kabalevsky

🎨 Color-Focus Practice (NFPER)

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

• N – Notes – correct pitches and accidentals (🟥 Red)

• F – Fingering – consistent, effective finger choices (🟨 Yellow)

• P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟧 Orange)

• E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟪 Purple)

• R – Rhythm – steady pulse, accurate timing, and rests (🟦 Blue)

✅ 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.

“Spot” until it’s solid — meaning:

• ✅ 3 times in a row correctly, or

• ✅ 5 total correct repetitions, then move on.

1. Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.

2. 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?