Originally called Pianoforte because it could play both soft (piano) and loud (forte), the piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound by striking strings with hammers which are connected to the keys. This musical instrument is characterized by its large range (88 keys) and ability to play chords freely and has broad appeal. Learners of this instrument will enjoy a beautiful sound described as to be sweet, round, dark, and rich.
Level 0
Generalities and musical acquisitions
- Adaptation of the body to the instrument
- Gesture coordination
- Awakening of listening
- Notion of musical breathing
- Hand position
- Public performance
- Simple rhythms on a steady pulse
- Flexibility and relaxation
Skills expected of students
- Having a natural position at the piano
- Reading a score adapted to its level
- Study regularly at home according to the teacher’s instructions
- Explore the sound possibilities of the piano
- Listen to his/her own piano play
- Improvise from the repertoire worked or from simple instructions
- Play with melodic style
- Play with a regular pulse
- Play and memorize pieces of various characters
Technical Skills
- Training of memory and reflexes at all stages of learning
- Study of various pieces
- Introductory exercises to scales and chords (Thumb pass, hands separated on an octave)
- Working on stiffness of wrists, forearms, arms, fingers, the crossing of hands, movement, extension
- Improvisation
- Link and Practice with Music theory Course Content
- Participation in auditions and projects
- Practice in music ensembles
- Regular practice of the instrument
- Practice of sight-reading (application of elementary principles)
- Use of audiovisual technologies
Level I
Generalities and musical acquisitions
- Revision and development of the contents of the Initiation Cycle or previous stages
- Learning and the importance of fingering
- Agility
- Adaptation and contact with the instrument
- Coordination of piano gestures
- Musical expression
- Sight-reading
- Practice of performing in public
- Phrasing and musical breathing
- Preparation and practice of the public performance
- Rhythm accuracy on a steady pulse
- Position and independence of hands
- Flexibility and relaxation during playing
Training modalities
- Training of memory and reflexes at all stages of learning
- Study of scores of different styles and eras (from baroque to contemporary)
- Link and Practice of Music theory Course Content
- Participation in auditions and projects
- The practice of scales, arpeggios, chords and cadences
- Daily practice of the instrument
- The practice of music in ensembles
- Regular practice of sight-reading
- Use of audiovisual technologies
Outcomes
- Adopt a natural position at the piano
- Learning only a work adapted to his/her level within a given time frame
- Sight-read a score adapted to his/her level with reading skills
- Listen to his/her own playing and evaluate it
- Studying at home daily and managing working time
- Improvise from the worked repertoire
- Perform with the sense of phrasing and musical breathing
- Perform with regular pulsation while maintaining rhythmic stability
- Perform and memorize pieces of various characters
- Vary the touch and the sound of the instrument with dynamics and articulations.
- Listening to recordings and attending concerts
Level II
Generalities and musical acquisitions
- Revision and development of the contents of the Initiation Cycle or previous stages
- Learning and the importance of fingering
- Agility
- Adaptation and contact with the instrument
- Coordination of piano gestures
- Musical expression
- Sight-reading
- Practice of performing in public
- Phrasing and musical breathing
- Preparation and practice of the public performance
- Rhythm accuracy on a steady pulse
- Position and independence of hands
- Flexibility and relaxation during playing
Training modalities
- Training of memory and reflexes at all stages of learning
- Study of scores of different styles and eras (from baroque to contemporary)
- Link and Practice of Music theory Course Content
- Participation in auditions and projects
- The practice of scales, arpeggios, chords and cadences
- Daily practice of the instrument
- The practice of music in ensembles
- Regular practice of sight-reading
- Use of audiovisual technologies
Outcomes
- Adopt a natural position at the piano
- Learning only a work adapted to his/her level within a given time frame
- Sight-read a score adapted to his/her level with reading skills
- Listen to his/her own playing and evaluate it
- Studying at home daily and managing working time
- Improvise from the worked repertoire
- Perform with the sense of phrasing and musical breathing
- Perform with regular pulsation while maintaining rhythmic stability
- Perform and memorize pieces of various characters
- Vary the touch and the sound of the instrument with dynamics and articulations.
- Listening to recordings and attending concerts
Level III
Generalities and musical acquisitions
- Revise the objectives of the previous levels.
- Always pay attention to posture.
- Pay attention to the natural position of the hand and fingers, as well as the articulation: round fingertips, avoid crushing the finger joint.
- Introduce the student to the memorization of a few pieces.
- Teach the student to follow the indications of the score: dynamics, slurs, playing staccato and different rhythms.
- Encourage sight-reading
- Analysis of the outline of a work
- In-depth listening to its own playing
- Pianistic gesture related to musical interpretation
- Sight-reading
- Public performance
- Rhythm accuracy on a steady pulse
- Sound quality
- Phrasing in connection with breathing and harmony (depending on the type of repertoire)
- Personal research of fingering
- Flexibility and relaxation while playing
- Fine use of the pedal
Training modalities
- Listening to recordings and attending concerts
- Study of a repertoire appropriate to the student level
- Participation in auditions and concerts
- Regular practice of sight-reading
- Ensemble music practice
- Practice of the technique in various forms
- Strategy and autonomy at work
- Using elements of improvisation and harmony
- Use of audiovisual techniques
Outcomes
- Learn and perform a work adapted to the level within a given time frame
- Have a work discipline
- Sight-read a score and give an overview of its musical content
- Differentiate styles, from baroque to contemporary
- Manage tempo according to musical style and character
- Identify the structure and shape of a piece
- Integrate the phrasing into the expression
- Play and memorize major pieces for a public concert
- Participate in the choice of its own repertoire
- Resolve piano difficulties using appropriate technical means related to expression
- Listen to his/her own playing, evaluate it and have a critical opinion
- Vary the touch and the sound of the instrument with dynamics and articulations.
Level IV
Generalities and musical acquisitions
- Revise the objectives of the previous levels.
- Always pay attention to posture.
- Pay attention to the natural position of the hand and fingers, as well as the articulation: round fingertips, and avoid crushing the finger joint.
- Introduce the student to the memorization of a few pieces.
- Teach the student to follow the indications of the score: dynamics, slurs, playing staccato and different rhythms.
- Encourage sight-reading
- Analysis of the outline of a work
- In-depth listening to its own playing
- Pianistic gesture related to musical interpretation
- Sight-reading
- Public performance
- Rhythm accuracy on a steady pulse
- Sound quality
- Phrasing in connection with breathing and harmony (depending on the type of repertoire)
- Personal research of fingering
- Flexibility and relaxation while playing
- Fine use of the pedal
Training modalities
- Listening to recordings and attending concerts
- Study of a repertoire appropriate to the student level
- Participation in auditions and concerts
- Regular practice of sight-reading
- Ensemble music practice
- Practice of the technique in various forms
- Strategy and autonomy at work
- Using elements of improvisation and harmony
- Use of audiovisual techniques
Outcomes
- Learn and perform a work adapted to the level within a given time frame
- Have a work discipline
- Sight-read a score and give an overview of its musical content
- Differentiate styles, from baroque to contemporary
- Manage tempo according to musical style and character
- Identify the structure and shape of a piece
- Integrate the phrasing into the expression
- Play and memorize major pieces for a public concert
- Participate in the choice of its own repertoire
- Resolve piano difficulties using appropriate technical means related to expression
- Listen to his/her own playing, evaluate it and have a critical opinion
- Vary the touch and the sound of the instrument with dynamics and articulations.
Level V
Generalities and musical acquisitions
- Review and put into practice the objectives of previous levels.
- Always pay attention to posture.
- Pay attention to the natural position of the hand and fingers, as well as the articulation: round fingertips, and avoid crushing the finger joint.
- Introduce the student to the memorization of a few pieces.
- Teach the student to follow the indications of the score: dynamics, slurs, playing staccato and different rhythms.
- Encourage sight-reading
- Analysis of the outline of a work
- In-depth listening to its own playing
- Pianistic gesture related to musical interpretation
- Sight-reading
- Public performance
- Rhythm accuracy on a steady pulse
- Sound quality
- Phrasing in connection with breathing and harmony (depending on the type of repertoire)
- Personal research of fingering
- Flexibility and relaxation while playing
- Fine use of the pedal
Training modalities
- Listening to recordings and attending concerts
- Study of a repertoire appropriate to the student level
- Participation in auditions and concerts
- Regular practice of sight-reading
- Ensemble music practice
- Practice of the technique in various forms
- Strategy and autonomy at work
- Using elements of improvisation and harmony
- Use of audiovisual techniques
Outcomes
- Learn and perform a work adapted to the level within a given time frame
- Have a work discipline
- Sight-read a score and give an overview of its musical content
- Differentiate styles, from baroque to contemporary
- Manage tempo according to musical style and character
- Identify the structure and shape of a piece
- Integrate the phrasing into the expression
- Play and memorize major pieces for a public concert
- Participate in the choice of its own repertoire
- Resolve piano difficulties using appropriate technical means related to expression
- Listen to his/her own playing, evaluate it and have a critical opinion
- Vary the touch and the sound of the instrument with dynamics and articulations.
Level VI
Generalities and musical acquisitions
- Review and put into practice the objectives of previous levels.
- Always pay attention to posture.
- Pay attention to the natural position of the hand and fingers, as well as the articulation: round fingertips, and avoid crushing the finger joint.
- Introduce the student to the memorization of a few pieces.
- Teach the student to follow the indications of the score: dynamics, slurs, playing staccato and different rhythms.
- Encourage sight-reading
- Analysis of the outline of a work
- In-depth listening to its own playing
- Pianistic gesture related to musical interpretation
- Sight-reading
- Public performance
- Rhythm accuracy on a steady pulse
- Sound quality
- Phrasing in connection with breathing and harmony (depending on the type of repertoire)
- Personal research of fingering
- Flexibility and relaxation while playing
- Fine use of the pedal
Training modalities
- Listening to recordings and attending concerts
- Study of a repertoire appropriate to the student level
- Participation in auditions and concerts
- Regular practice of sight-reading
- Ensemble music practice
- Practice of the technique in various forms
- Strategy and autonomy at work
- Using elements of improvisation and harmony
- Use of audiovisual techniques
Outcomes
- Learn and perform a work adapted to the level within a given time frame
- Have a work discipline
- Sight-read a score and give an overview of its musical content
- Differentiate styles, from baroque to contemporary
- Manage tempo according to musical style and character
- Identify the structure and shape of a piece
- Integrate the phrasing into the expression
- Play and memorize major pieces for a public concert
- Participate in the choice of its own repertoire
- Resolve piano difficulties using appropriate technical means related to expression
- Listen to his/her own playing, evaluate it and have a critical opinion
- Vary the touch and the sound of the instrument with dynamics and articulations.
