June 11, 2024

Good Listener (need to earn over two lessons in-a-row)

Happy Hand Position (wrist above the white keys and finger number 4 curved)

Summer:

July 26th - Mid August away.

💚“Sight-Reading 2A”

  1. Left off on page 44 of 90

  2. PRACTICE SIGHT-READING NO FASTER THAN M.M. 50 PER QUARTER NOTE.

  3. Please use the metronome for EVERY assignment.

    1. Identify the time signature

    2. What is the shortest note-value?

    3. Clap the beat and ta the rhythm IN YOUR MIND

    4. Study the contour (shape) of the notes and the distance between them (intervals).

    5. Set a steady (slow) beat, then begin.

    6. Don’t correct anything in real-time.

💚🎹Technique: Level 2

  1. See the RCM Technical Requirements Level 02 PDF

    1. Prepare G major, E harmonic minor, E melodic minor

      1. ONE TIME CLOSE LOUD (no faster than m.m. 50)

        1. From the key

        2. Attack very strong with a forward-motion wrist

        3. Immediately relax after the attack

        4. Fingers must be round and sound must be strong.

        5. If you make a mistake, go back at least one note.

      2. ONE TIME STACCATO

      3. ONE TIME LEGAGO

💚Rhyme Time (2. B)

  1. Great job on learning the correct notes and fingering!

  2. Please remember to follow the blog instructions carefully. You learned hands alone to the end, instead of hands alone THEN together, 1-2 measures at a time.

  3. LH alone, measure 24

    1. Start with hand in lap and raise up to drop into the second chord with a low then raised wrist. Don’t worry about making mistakes. More important to be relaxed on the drop/attack. Don’t “throw” down onto the keys. Let the natural weight of your arm drop.

    2. Now play the first chord staccato (pretending it’s your lap as above), and land with a relaxed open hand.

    3. Repeat the same for measure 25.

  4. RH m. 2:

    1. Each beat gets three parts to the “swing.” The first note gets two parts and the second note gets one. Use number “1, 2, 3” or works with two and one syllable. “App-le Sauce” to help you feel the swing.

  5. HT m. 2

    1. Focus on LH drop and pop wrist.

🖤A Ditty of Yimeng Mountain (2. C)

💜Four Star: Level 2: “Four Star 02 00 01” (Review Set 1)

  1. Practice the playbacks and Clapbacks.

  2. Remember to practice with the TWO audio recordings found in your Level 1 Tests PDF. One is for playback and one is for clapback.

💜THEORY: Level 2, Unit 2

  1. Finish the unit.

  2. 💚THEORY: Level 2, Unit 3

    1. Prepare pages 4-6

REVIEW PIECES:

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

  2. 💚Angelfish (L. 1, B)

  3. 💚Andante in G Minor by Georg Philip Telemann (L. 1, A)

  4. 💚Detectives by Christine Donkin (L. 1, Etude)

  5. 💚Andante in G Minor by Georg Philip Telemann (L. 1, A)

  6. 💚Angelfish (L. 1, B)

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

  8. 💚Celebration by Ann Crosby Gaudet (L. 1, Etude)

  9. 💜💚💚 The Calico Cat by Helen Marlais (b. 1966) (Prep B)

  10. 💚💚💚Freddie the Frog by Anne Crosby-Gaudet (b. 1968) (Prep B)

  11. 💚💚💚Allegro in C Major op. 1 no. 4 by Alexander Reinagle (1756-1809) (L. A)

  12. 💚💚💚A Skating Waltz by Boris Berlin (1907-2001) (L. A)

  13. 💚💚💚What’s That Noise by Martha Mier (b. 1936) L. A)

2023 Fall Milestones

  1. RCM Level B Exam in the Fall? Or Level 1 in the Spring.

Register for RCM Level 1 Exam by February 10th

RCM LEVEL 1 EXAM: May 29th 11:01 am

List A: Andante

List B: Angelfish

List C: The Snake

Etude: Detectives

Recital May 19th: 3 pm (or 1 pm if possible)

Angelfish

Detectives

The Snake

Andante

Celebration