January 14, 2026 (Lesson 4.5 of 8)

💚“Sight-Reading 2B”

  1. Prepare pgs. 12-16

  2. (Dustin will hear p. 17 next time - don’t practcie this)

💚THEORY_03_07_Triads

  1. Complete the unit

💚The Happy Farmer by Robert Schumann (L. 4, C)

  1. End of m. 5 - hold the RH chord for its full value. Spot this at least three days this week - 3 x’s in-a-row correctly, then zoom out and do the same thing for mm. 3-5

  2. m. 3 and 7 purple markings please.

  3. Practice starting from any measure.

💚Four Star: Level 3, Set 8

  1. Complete this

💚Minuet in D Minor BWV Anh. 132 by J. S. Bach (L. 4, A)

  1. See all blue markings

  2. Memorize measures 1-8, learn 5-8

  3. Put in the expression markings for 9-12 let Dustin know when you’re done.

🖤Sonatina in G Major op. 36 no. 2 III by Muzio Clementi (L. 4, B)

🎨 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 (🟧 Orange)

  • P – Position – hand shape, posture, and keyboard geography (🟨 Yellow)

  • E – Expression – phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone, etc. (🟩 Green)

  • 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

  • ✅ 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?

REVIEW PIECES:

💚The First Noel, Traditional, arr. Edwin McLean

💚Bird in the Bebop by Wynn-Anne Rossi (L. 2, Etude)

  1. 2, List A: Minuet in G Major, BWV Anh. 114 by Christian Petzold (1677-1733)

  2. 2, List B: Sonatina in G Major, Anh. 5, no. 1. II. Romanze, attr. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

  3. 2, List C: Play by Béla Bartók (1881-1945)

  4. 2, Etude 1: Prelude No. 4 in F Major by Elvina Pearce

  5. 2, Etude 2: Arabesque, op. 100, no. 2 by Burgmuller

  6. 💚Bird in the Bebop by Wynn-Anne Rossi (L. 2, Etude)

  7. O Christmas Tree

  8. Etude in F Major, Op. 190, No. 27 by Christian Louis Heinrich Köhler (L. 2, Etude)

  9. 💚A Ditty of Yimeng Mountain (2. C)

  10. 💚Minuet in A Minor by Purcell (2, A)

  11. 💚Rhyme Time (2. B)

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

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

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

  15. 💚💜Angelfish (L. 1, B)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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