piano curriculum
Listed below in order are the books and scales taught at each level (PA Primer - RCM 10), as well as practice expectations and exam requirements.
Piano Adventures Primer
30 minute lesson
Piano Adventures Primer Level -- Lesson
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 5-10 mins per day.
Piano Adventures Primer Level -- Theory
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Adventures Primer Level -- Technique and Artistry
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Practice 5 mins per day.
Piano Adventures Primer Level -- Sight reading
One sight reading exercise per day. Play through (practice not necessary)
Piano Adventures Primer Level -- Performance (optional)
Pages correspond with lesson. Practice 5 mins per day.
Scales
No scales for this level
Exam
No exam for this level
Piano Adventures 1
30 minute lesson
Piano Adventures 1 -- Lesson
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 10 - 15 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 1 -- Theory
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Adventures 1 -- Technique and Artistry
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Practice 5 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 1 -- Sight reading
One sight reading exercise per day. Play through (practice not necessary)
Piano Adventures 1 -- Performance (optional)
Pages correspond with lesson. Practice 10 mins per day.
Scales
Major and minor pentascales. Practice 5 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of Piano Adventures 1 exam
Piano Adventures 2A
45 minute lesson
Piano Adventures 2A -- Lesson
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 10 - 15 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 2A -- Theory
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Adventures 2A -- Technique and Artistry
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Practice 5 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 2A -- Sight reading
One sight reading exercise per day. Play through (practice not necessary)
Piano Adventures 2A -- Performance (optional)
Pages correspond with lesson. Practice 10 mins per day.
Scales
Major 1 octave scales, major 2 octave arpeggios. Practice 5 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of Piano Adventures 2A Exam
Piano Adventures 2B
45 minute lesson
Piano Adventures 2B -- Lesson
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 15 - 20 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 2B -- Theory
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Adventures 2B -- Technique and Artistry
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Practice 5 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 2B -- Sight reading
One sight reading exercise per day. Play through (practice not necessary)
Piano Adventures 2B -- Performance (optional)
Pages correspond with lesson. Practice 10 mins per day.
Scales
Minor 1 octave scales, minor 2 octave arpeggios. Practice 5 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of Piano Adventures 2B Exam
Piano Adventures 3A
45 minute lesson
Piano Adventures 3A -- Lesson
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 15 - 20 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 3A -- Theory
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Adventures 3A -- Technique and Artistry
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Practice 5 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 3A -- Sight reading
One sight reading exercise per day. Play through (practice not necessary)
Piano Adventures 3A -- Performance (optional)
Pages correspond with lesson. Practice 10 - 15 mins per day.
Scales
Major 2 octave scales, 2 octave arpeggios (random). Practice 5 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of Piano Adventures 3A Exam
Piano Adventures 3B
45 minute lesson
Piano Adventures 3B -- Lesson
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 15 - 20 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 3B -- Theory
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Adventures 3B -- Technique and Artistry
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Practice 5 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 3B -- Sight reading
One sight reading exercise per day. Play through (practice not necessary)
Piano Adventures 3B -- Performance (optional)
Pages correspond with lesson. Practice 10 - 15 mins per day.
Scales
Minor 2 octave scales, 2 octave arpeggios (random). Practice 5 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of Piano Adventures 3B Exam
Piano Adventures 4
60 minute lesson
Piano Adventures 4 -- Lesson
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 20 - 25 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 4 -- Theory
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Adventures 4 -- Technique and Artistry
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Practice 5 - 10 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 4 -- Sight reading
One sight reading exercise per day. Play through (practice not necessary)
Piano Adventures 4 -- Performance (optional)
Pages correspond with lesson. Practice 15 - 20 mins per day.
Scales
Major 4 octave scales with contrary motion, major 4 octave arpeggios. Practice 5 - 10 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of Piano Adventures 4 Exam
Piano Adventures 5
60 minute lesson
Piano Adventures 5 -- Lesson
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 20 - 25 mins per day.
Piano Adventures 5 -- Theory
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Adventures 5 -- Technique and Artistry
Pages correspond with lesson and are assigned in class. Practice 5 - 10 mins per day.
RCM Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 3
One sight reading exercise per day, ear test weekly. Play through (practice not necessary)
Piano Adventures 5 -- Performance (optional)
Pages correspond with lesson. Practice 15 - 20 mins per day.
Scales
Minor 4 octave scales with contrary motion, minor 4 octave arpeggios. Practice 5 - 10 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of RCM Level 3 exam
RCM Level 4
60 minute lesson
Piano Repertoire Level 4
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 20 - 25 mins per day.
Celebrate Theory 4
Pages are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Etudes Level 4
Pages are assigned in class. Practice 10 - 15 mins per day.
Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 4
One sight reading exercise per day, ear test weekly. Play through (practice not necessary)
Level appropriate supplemental book (optional)
Songs chosen based on student interest and level. Practice 15 - 20 mins per day.
Scales
Major 4 octave 6th and 10th scales, 4 octave arpeggios (random). Practice 5 - 10 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of RCM Level 4 exam
RCM Level 5
60 minute lesson
Piano Repertoire Level 5
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 25 - 30 mins per day.
Celebrate Theory 5
Pages are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Etudes Level 5
Pages are assigned in class. Practice 10 - 15 mins per day.
Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 5
One sight reading exercise per day, ear test weekly. Play through (practice not necessary)
Level appropriate supplemental book (optional)
Songs chosen based on student interest and level. Practice 15 - 20 mins per day.
Scales
Minor 4 octave 6th and 10th scales, 4 octave arpeggios (random). Practice 5 - 10 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of RCM Level 5 exam
RCM Level 6
60 minute lesson
Piano Repertoire Level 6
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 25 - 30 mins per day.
Celebrate Theory 6
Pages are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Etudes Level 6
Pages are assigned in class. Practice 15 - 20 mins per day.
Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 6
One sight reading exercise per day, ear test weekly. Play through (practice not necessary)
Level appropriate supplemental book (optional)
Songs chosen based on student interest and level. Practice 15 - 20 mins per day.
Scales
Major and minor double octave scales, 4 octave scales (random), 4 octave arpeggios (random). Practice 5 - 10 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of RCM Level 6 exam
RCM Level 7
60 minute lesson
Piano Repertoire Level 7
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 25 - 30 mins per day.
Celebrate Theory 7
Pages are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Etudes Level 7
Pages are assigned in class. Practice 15 - 20 mins per day.
Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 7
One sight reading exercise per day, ear test weekly. Play through (practice not necessary)
Level appropriate supplemental book (optional)
Songs chosen based on student interest and level. Practice 15 - 20 mins per day.
Scales
4 octave arpeggio inversions, scales (random), arpeggios (random). Practice 5 - 10 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of RCM Level 7 exam
RCM Level 8
90 minute lesson, or two 45 minute lessons
Piano Repertoire Level 8
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 30 - 35 mins per day.
Celebrate Theory 8
Pages are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Etudes Level 8
Pages are assigned in class. Practice 25 - 30 mins per day.
Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 8
One sight reading exercise per day, ear test weekly. Play through (practice not necessary)
Level appropriate supplemental book (optional)
Songs chosen based on student interest and level. Practice 20 - 25 mins per day.
Scales
4 octave 7 chord arpeggios, 4 octave scales (random), 4 octave arpeggios (random). Practice 5 - 10 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of RCM Level 8 exam
RCM Level 9
90 minute lesson, or two 45 minute lessons
Piano Repertoire Level 9
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 35 - 40 mins per day.
Celebrate Theory 9
Pages are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Etudes Level 9
Pages are assigned in class. Practice 25 - 30 mins per day.
Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 9
One sight reading exercise per day, ear test weekly. Play through (practice not necessary)
Level appropriate supplemental book (optional)
Songs chosen based on student interest and level. Practice 20 - 25 mins per day.
Scales
4 octave 7 chord arpeggio inversions, scales (random), arpeggios (random). Practice 5 - 10 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of RCM Level 9 exam
Equivalent of RCM Level 9 Keyboard Harmony Exam
RCM Level 10
90 minute lesson, or two 45 minute lessons
Piano Repertoire Level 10
Pages learned and assigned in class. Practice 35 - 40 mins per day.
Celebrate Theory 10
Pages are assigned in class. Complete at home before next lesson.
Piano Etudes Level 10
Pages are assigned in class. Practice 30 - 35 mins per day.
Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 10
One sight reading exercise per day, ear test weekly. Play through (practice not necessary)
Level appropriate supplemental book (optional)
Songs chosen based on student interest and level. Practice 20 - 25 mins per day.
Scales
3rds scales, 4 octave scales (random), 4 octave arpeggios (random). Practice 5 - 10 mins per day.
Exam
Equivalent of RCM Level 10 exam
Equivalent of RCM Level 10 Keyboard Harmony Exam
Post - RCM Levels
120 minute lesson, or two 60 minute lessons
Audition Track (for students pursuing music at university)
Repertoire
3 pieces from contrasting eras, 1 chosen by student. Practice 45 mins - 4 hours per day (practice time greatly depends on pieces chosen and level. Students should not attempt 4 hours of practice immediately after completing RCM Level 10--- longer practices will be worked up to over time.)
1 Chopin etude. Practice 35 - 40 mins per day)
1 Bach Prelude and Fugue (15 - 20 mins per day)
Sight Reading
Schumann Album for the Young. Play through 1 song per day in order.
Technique
Hanon Exercises. Play through with "impulses" and as instructed in book.
Scales
All major and minor 4 octave scales with contrary motion, 4 octave arpeggios and inversions, double octaves, optional modes. Practice 5 - 10 minutes per day
Exam
Audition/Mock audition
University Level Piano
Repertoire
3 pieces from contrasting eras, 1 chosen by student. Practice 45 mins - 4 hours per day (practice time greatly depends on pieces chosen and level. Students should not attempt 4 hours of practice immediately after completing RCM Level 10--- longer practices will be worked up to over time.)
It's important to note that completing the RCM Levels is not the end of learning piano but rather the beginning. Method books serve to provide strong musical foundations, and by the end of them, students are ready to truly study the instrument and work towards mastery.
Sight reading book
Tailored to student's interests and skill level. Play 1 song per day.
Technique
Czerny or Hanon, tailored to student. Play 1 exercise per day (Czerny) or as instructed in book (Hanon)
Scales
All major and minor 4 octave scales with contrary motion, 4 octave arpeggios and inversions, double octaves, optional modes. Practice 5 - 10 minutes per day
Exam:
Mock jury (optional)
Competitions (optional)