MONTHLY FOCUSES for Students Level 3 Premier & Higher 

 

September 6 - November 17 Technique & Etudes:

  • Fingering 100% correct
  • Fluent, no false starts
  • Knowledge of keys
  • **November 1:  add Christmas music
 Era:

Classical 1750 - 1825

(List B)
  • Sonatina/sonata
  • Composer research
  • Phrasing & Slurs
  • Analyze technical elements
  • Count aloud
  • Memorization
  • Fingering
November 21 - January 19 Ensembles Assigned:

  • Discover how important listening is for ensemble work
  • Practice with metronome
  • Evaluate your role as either primo or secondo
 Era:

Baroque 1600 - 1750

(List A)
  • Articulation
  • Count aloud
  • Fingering
  • Composer research
  • Clear voicing
  • Early instrument research
  • Memorization
  • Practice HS with other hand’s weight on top
January 21 - March 2 Sight Reading and Ear Training:

  • Memorize song titles for intervals
  • Work on rhythms:  sight and clap back
  • Quick studies graded out of 5 each week
 Era:

Romantic 1825 - 1885

(List C)
  • Composer research
  • Fine tuning pedaling skills:  damper & una corda
  • Breathing the music
  • Memorization
  • Count aloud
  • Fingering
  • Dynamics
March 6 - May 18 Musicianship & Artistry

  • Dynamics
  • Rhythm
  • Stylistic
  • Master a modern technique never seen before
 Era:

Modern 1900 - today
  • Composer research
  • Hybrid time/mixed meter/tempo terms
  • Memorization
  • Articulation
  • Fingering
  • Count aloud
May 23 - June 12 Final recital prep    

 

  1. Before beginning to play, say opening finger numbers and starting notes aloud.
  2. Count aloud at home as well as in the lesson without prompting.Use metronome at home.
  3. Perfect fingering required.
  4. Articulation:legato, staccato, portato, slurs, phrases.
  5. Dynamic markings:colour the piece to add interest.
  6. Theory homework must be handed in on time.
  7. Highlight tempo change markings: the opening tempo, rit., accelerando, a tempo, a breath marking, fermata
  8. Let your mantra be:            THINK 10x     PLAY ONCE
  9. Discover the value of learning on the fallboard (keyboard cover)
  10. Chunk practice with brain engaged