February 25, 2026 (Lesson 1.5 of 8)

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

  1. Measures 13-14

    1. RH top notes legato and strong

    2. then play bottom repeated D’s very quietly and detached. Don’t hold for full value.

    3. Then add both layers together.

    4. Speedbuild.

    5. Repeat the above but add the LH>

  2. Measure 17 - careful not to suddenly speed up.

  3. Learn mm. 48 to the end of the page

💚THEORY_04_01

  1. Compete the unit - congrats on entering level 4!

❤️THEORY_03_08_Putting it All Together

  1. Re-memorize the terms at the end of the unit.

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

  1. See the new phrase markings.

  2. Focus on sticky detached notes and a darker, sad quality of playing.

💚“Sight-Reading 2B”

  1. Prepare pgs. 32-37

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

  1. Measures 9-15

    1. SLOW WORK:

      1. Close-loud right hand alone, left hand alone, then together. no faster than m.m. 66 per 8th note

    2. MEDIUM TEMPO WORK:

      1. Start at m.m. 66, 72, 80, 84 per quarter note with a focus on pp dynamic level for all inner notes that repeat (8th notes not part of the melody.

    3. FINAL TEMPO WORK:

      1. Perform with no music at m.m. 96, 100 & 104

  2. Work from m.m. 100 to 120 with a focus on keeping the RH relaxed and LH heavy but flexible.

💚Four Star: Level 3

  1. Practice daily with the audio in Newzik (tests) titled “8 Playbacks 2/17” and “Four Clap backs 8/21”

    1. Maybe new recordings next week depending on how this goes.

    2. Focus more on clapbacks.

🎨 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