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Syllabus Overview

Piano/Keyboard Grade 1

Piano

4-6 months

Goals

  • Certification : Finish a certificate course, and take an exam with Trinity College London.
    For more details on the exam, visit Trinity College London's Piano Page.

  • Performance : Prepare for competitions/stage performances/events based on your level of skill. When you're ready, record at the studio.

  • Social Playing : Learn techniques that you can use, on popular pieces/songs at this level, to play along with friends, etc., at social events and gatherings.

Concepts Covered

Knowledge, technique from Piano Initial is required. 

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Finger Technique ONE (60 exercises covering the following): ​

  • Staccato Chords.

  • Simultaneous Right-Hand and Left-Hand Chords.

  • Cross-overs beyond octaves.

  • Octave jumps (both hands).

  • Thirds (both hands).

  • Introduction to accidentals.

  • Triplets.

  • Introduction to syncopation between hands.

  • Sharps and Flats.

  • Introduction to Off-beat phrasing.

  • Chromatic two-note chord movements.

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Finger Technique TWO (60 exercises covering the following): ​

  • Tied notes.

  • Melody on one hand accompanied by chords on the other.

  • Introduction to jumps and repeats

  • Dynamics (p and f)

  • Crescendos

  • Decrecendos

  • Tempo

  • Pedal work

  • Key-Signatures (1-flat/F-major | 1-sharp/G-major)

  • Note repetition with finger changes

  • Staccato studies with chords

  • Rapidity in closed groups

  • Accents

  • Broken Chords

  • Harmonic Thirds.

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Sight Reading (48 exercises) : 

  • Natural keys.

  • Notes across 3 octave range.

  • 8 bar pieces with two 4 bar phrases just like in jazz.

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Rhythm Reading (15 exercises) :​

  • 40 bar exercises.

  • Understanding Cut-time rhythms.

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Improvisation Technique :

  • F Blues riff (Introduction to blues leads).

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Comping :

  • Introduction to chord progressions.

  • Broken Chords.

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Exam Syllabus*

  • Pieces

  • Exercises

  • Musical Knowledge

  • Scales

  • Arpeggios

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