Good Listener (need to earn over two lessons in-a-row)
Happy Hand Position (wrist above the white keys and finger number 4 curved)
RCM LEVEL 1 EXAM: May 29th 11:01 am
💚Go through your rewards cards and see which ones you’ve earned! Set them aside for Dustin to review at the next lesson.
💚THEORY: Level 1, Unit 1
Prepare pages 1-3
💚“Sight-Reading 2A”
Left off on page 18
❤️Remember that an accidental (sharp, flat or natural) only lasts for one measure, and only pertains to the line or space on which it is placed.
Goal is to get all of NFRPE on the first try.
Follow the instructions of the little characters in your music. :)
Think about the shortest note value first and ask yourself how fast you want to play that - SLOW!
After your first try, stop and fix anything in your head.
Try again and reevaluate again.
Try a third try is necessary.
💚Four Star: Level 1
Prepare Set 2
❤️Dustin create audio for playbacks and clap backs.
❤️🎹Technique: Level 1
See the RCM Technical Requirements Level 01 PDF.
See the purple highlighted items.
Before you start, get in your mind - the key signature and where your 4th fingers go in each hand.
Harmonic Minor Scale = raise the 7th scale degree by 1/2 step. Everything is the same apart from the 7th scale degree.
Practice one time with the music then one time without
💚Detectives by Christine Donkin (L. 1, Etude)
See pink and purple pen
💛Angelfish (L. 1, B)
Measures 1-4:
❤️Don’t go into the black keys with your LH fingers.
RH softer
“Angelbunnies” means LH needs to prepare over the note in advance so that you’re not getting there at the last second.
Practice these measures correctly three times each practice session.
Measures 22-24:
Gradual slow down.
❤️“Angelbunny” from the 2nd to last note of the piece (in the RH), to the last notes of the piece.
💜The Snake by Renée Christopher (L. 1, C)
See the markings in the music.
💜Andante in G Minor by Georg Philip Telemann (L. 1, A)
Practice starting from any measure.
Focus on RH melody above the LH
💜Celebration by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 1, Etude)
Practice the first four measures with the metronome, gradually building your speed:
4 measures at a time.
Start at 60, then move to 63, 66, 69, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88
Think about the 1st beat in each measure as the accent - or your anchor point to find yourself with the metronome.
🖤Hanon No. 1 (speed-building)
Metronome 56 per quarter Note
Start AFTER you get beat in your mind, and then play for 3-4 measures with one or two goals. Then stop and reevaluate.
SAMPLE GOALS ARE SMOOTH WRISTS, FINGERS CURVED, CORRECT NOTES, ETC.
Once a week, review the following pieces with the music:
💚Minuet in F Major by Leopold Mozart (1719-1787) (Prep B)
Focus on relaxed wrists after playing long notes.
💜💚💚 The Calico Cat by Helen Marlais (b. 1966) (Prep B)
Review, making sure your focus on DYNAMICS.
💚💚💚Freddie the Frog by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (b. 1968) (Prep B)
💚💚💚Allegro in C Major op. 1 no. 4 by Alexander Reinagle (1756-1809) (L. A)
💚💚💚A Skating Waltz by Boris Berlin (1907-2001) (L. A)
💚💚💚What’s That Noise by Martha Mier (b. 1936) L. A)
❤️ = Needs lots of work or wasn’t prepared properly for more than one lesson
💜 = Didn’t get to it at the last lesson - we’ll start with this before 💛 or 💚
💛 = Doing the assignment but needs special attention
💚 - On track and do the assignment.
2023 Fall Milestones
RCM Level B Exam in the Fall? Or Level 1 in the Spring.