Lesson Assignments
RCM, Level 1, Practical Exam:
Dec 2, 2025 4:36 PM - memorize all the info about the pieces listed below (List A is, etc.)
Etude: Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864) p.
List A: Minuet in D Major by Leopold Mozart (1719-1787) p. 10 of book
List B: This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash (b. 1960) p. 20
List C: Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964) p.
🟩Far Away by Teresa Richert (b. 1864)
Expression very important in the middle of the piece.
pedal needs to be clear and don’t come off the keys before you change the pedal (down motion).
🟩Minuet in D Major by Leopold Mozart: List A (1719-1787)
See the yellow highlights - don’t accent these notes.
Make the triplets smooth.
🟩This Guy’s Disguised by Bradley Sowash: List B (b. 1960)
Practice 13-14 & 17-18 - tidy attacks on beat 3 of each of these measures.
Careful of rushing with measures that don’t have 8th notes.
🟩Cranky Cat by Teresa Richert (b. 1964)
Think about the tempo of 7-8 before you start the piece.
🟩RCM Technical Requirements: Level 1
Next week, test on any Level 1 technical item.
Since this is a lot of items, just rotate through by setting a timer and picking up from where you left off the next day.
🟩Four Star Level 1
Please complete all of set 7 and 8
Playbacks continue to get better!
Practice clapbacks a bit more
LEVEL 2 ASSIGNMENTS
🟩 Theory Level 2
Finish Unit 2
🟩 Écossaise in G Major, WoO 23 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (L. 2, A)
Continue to practice with the metronome marking 53 per quarter note, especially measures 12-15.
🟩I Spy by Melody Bober (b. 1955) (L. 2, B)
(music in white binder)
Work on even / consistent triplets, especially in the left hand.
Do “accent practice” in the LH triplets by accenting the middle note, keeping the surrounding notes soft.
🟩Farewell op. 98 no. 4 by Aleksandr Grechaninov (L. 3, C)
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
Record your section once — video is best, but audio is fine too.
Listen back with one color/goal in mind.
As you listen, mark your music using that color anywhere it needs improvement.
Repeat for each remaining color, one at a time, until all five have been addressed.
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.
Focus on one or two colors at a time while practicing that spot.
Use the troubleshooting checklist below if you're stuck.
🔧 Troubleshooting Tips
🎯 If you’ve tried to fix something three times in-a-row and it’s still not working, don’t just repeat it — troubleshoot:
Do you need to slow down?
Should you practice hands alone?
Could you make the spot even smaller?
Would technical exercises help (staccato, accents, etc.)?
Do you need to think ahead more clearly?