McLelland Piano Studio, Birmingham, Alabama (Based upon Alabama Music Teachers Assoc. State Requirements)
REQUIREMENTS: Based upon AMTA keyboard theory requirements.
Award
LEVEL 1 - AGE 6 (and under):
(Level A, Ages 4-5, choose 1 or 2 keys -- 2-octave arpeggio only):
Mastery of concepts and etudes assigned in Technic Books PLUS:
Major Scales: hands separately, 1 octave (thumb under) in the keys of C, G, F Major
Major Chords: I (tonic) chord in root position, hands separately, spelled aloud in keys of C, G F Major
Major Arpeggios: broken tonic chord (in root position), cross hands, 4 octaves, pedal optional in keys of C, G, F Major
Major Intervals: Prime/Unison, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th/octave, played consecutively up from the keynote, named by number and note names in keys C, G, F Major
This page was last updated: August 8, 2009
Piano technic is the study of coordinate motion. Pianists should strive to always find the easiest and most efficient motions There are 2 main principles of coordinate motion:
1, That all the parts of the body are being used at their best mechanical advantage
2. That we always use the minimum effort for the maximum result.
Remember:
The fingers, hand, and arm function as a unit ---- all the parts always move:
•in the same direction
•at the same time
•in the same speed
•with the same freedom
KT&T (Keyboard Theory and Technic) is not just about learning what notes comprise the major and minor scales, chords and intervals. It's mostly about mastering HOW YOU MOVE when you play these scales, chords, and intervals. So, when you work on your KT&T at the beginning of EACH practice session, choose a slow enough tempo that allows you to EXAMINE your form and motions at the keyboard carefully, and LISTEN CRITICALLY for a rich, beautiful tone and an even, rhythmic pulse.
Every pianist should be able to answer "yes" to each of the following 7 questions of the "Pianist's Oath". If your answer is "no" to any of the following questions, then consider that you may be wasting your time at the instrument. Without mastering these basics principles of playing the piano, you will not progress successfully and you'll never be able to perform those fun and challenging pieces with freedom and virtuosity.
The Pianist's Technic Oath,
(and the key to becoming
an awesome pianist) . . . . . . . . .
KT&T Requirements . . . . . .
(In the listing below, find your age on or before 9/1 of current school year)
These are the scales, chords, arpeggios etc. that you will work on during EACH practice session and master by the March studio festival.
LEVEL 2 - AGES 7-8
Mastery of concepts and etudes assigned in Technic Books PLUS:
Major Scales: 1 octave, hands separately in keys of C, G, F Major
Harmonic Minor Scales: 1-octave, hands separately in keys of a, e, d, harmonic minor
Major Chords: I, IV, V Chords in root position, hands separately, spelled aloud in keys of C, G, F Major
Minor Chords: I, iv, V chords in root position, hands separately, spelled aloud in keys of a, e, d minor
Major Cadences: I-IV-I-V7 (V) - I, hands separately, pedal optional in keys of C, G, F Major
Minor Cadences: i-iv-i-V7 (V) - i, hands separately, pedal optional in keys of a, e, d minor
Major Arpeggios: broken tonic chord, cross hands, 4 octaves, pedal optional in key of C, G, F Major
Minor Arpeggios: broken tonic chord, cross hands, 4 octaves, pedal optional in keys of a, e, d minor
Intervals: all intervals, played consecutively up from the keynote, named by number and note names (spelled aloud) in keys of C, G, F Major and a, e, d harmonic minor
LEVEL 3 - AGE 9:
Mastery of concepts and etudes assigned in Technic Books PLUS:
MAJOR SCALES: 1octave, hands together in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E Major
HARMONIC MINOR SCALES: hands separately, 1 octave in the keys of a, e, d minor
Chords: I, IV, V chords in root position (i, iv, V for minor), hands separately, spelled aloud in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E Major and a, e, d harmonic minor
CADENCES: I-IV-I-V-I, hands separately, pedal optional in keys of C,G,F,D,A,E,a,e,d
ARPEGGIOS: broken tonic chord, cross hands, 4 octaves, pedal optional in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E Major and a, e, d minor
INTEVALS: played isolated ascending from the tonic note, named by number and note names in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E Major and a, e, d harmonic minor
LEVEL 4 - AGE 10
Mastery of concepts and etudes assigned in Technic Books PLUS:
Major Scales: 2 octaves, hands separately or together in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E Major
Harmonic Minor Scales: 2 octaves, hands separately or together in the keys of a, e, d, c, g, f minor
Major Chords: I, IV, V chords and inversions, ascending and descending, hands separately, root position spelled aloud in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E Major
Minor Chords: i, iv, V chords and inversions, ascending and descending, hands separately, root position spelled aloud in the keys of a, e, d, c, g, f minor
Major Cadences: I-IV-I-V7-(V) -I hands separately, pedal optional in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E Major
Minor Cadences: i-iv-i-V7 (V) - 9 hands separately, pedal optional in the keys of a, e, d, c, g, f minor
Major Arpeggio: broken tonic chord, cross hands, 4 octaves, pedal optional in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E Major
Minor Arpeggio: broken tonic chord, cross hands, octaves, pedal optional in the keys of a, e, d, c, g, f minor
Intervals: played isolated ascending from the tonic note, named by number and note names in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E Major and a, e, d, c, g, f harmonic minor
LEVEL 5 - AGE 11:
Mastery of concepts and etudes assigned in Technic Books PLUS:
Major Scales: 2 octaves, hands separately or together in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb Major
Harmonic Minor Scales: 2 octaves, hands separately or together in the keys of a, e, d, c, g, f, b minor
Major Chords: I, IV, V chords and inversions, spelled aloud in root position, ascending and descending, V7 in root position, resolved to I 6/4 hands separately or together in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb Major
Minor Chords: i, iv, V chords and inversions, spelled aloud in root position, ascending and descending, V7 in root position, resolved to i 6/4 hands separately or together in the keys of a, e, d, c, g, f, b minor
Major Cadences: I-IV-I-V7-(V)-I, hands separately, pedal optional in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb Major
Minor Cadences: i-iv-i-V7(V)-i hands separately, pedal optional in the keys of a, e, d, c, g, f, b minor
Major Arpeggios: Broken tonic chord, cross hands, 4 octaves, pedal optional in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb Major
Minor Arpeggios: broken tonic chord, cross hands, 4 octaves, pedal optional in the keys of a, e, d, c, g, f, b minor
Intervals: played isolated ascending from the tonic note, named by QUALITY (Major, minor, Perfect) and QUANTITY (2nd, 3rd, 4th etc.) and NOTE NAMES (spelled aloud) in the keys of: C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb Major or a, e, d, c, g, f, b harmonic minor
LEVEL 6 - AGE 12
Mastery of concepts and etudes assigned in Technic Books PLUS:
Scales: 2 octaves, hands separately or together in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb, Bb, Eb, Ab Major and a, e, d, c, g, f, b harmonic minor
Chords: I, IV, V (or i, iv, V) chords and inversions, spelled sloud in root position, ascending and descending, V7 in root position, resolved to I 6/4 (i 6/4) hands separately or together ini keys of C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb, Bb, Eb, Ab Major or a, e, d, c, g, f, b harmonic minor
Cadences: I-IV-I 6/4-V (V7)-I or i-iv-i 6/4-V (V7) - i (4 voices -- see AMTA handbook for example), PLAYED WITH PEDAL in keys of C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb, Bb, Eb, Ab Major and a, e,d, c, g, f, b harmonic minor
Arpeggios: hands separately or together, no pedal 2 octaves (thumb under, not crossover) in keys of C, D, Bb, Eb Major
Intervals: played isolated ascending from the tonic note, named by quality (Major, minor, Perfect) , quantity (number) and note names in keys of C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb, Bb, Eb, Ab Major and a, e, d,c, g, f, b harmonic minor
LEVEL 7 - AGE 13
Mastery of concepts and etudes assigned in Technic Books PLUS:
Scales: 2 octaves, hands together for Majors and hands separately or together for harmonic minors in the keys of: C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, C# Major and a, e, d, c, g, f, b harmonic minor
Chords: I, IV, V (i, iv, V) chords and inversions, spelled aloud in root position, ascending and descending, V7 in root position, resolved to I 6/4 (i 6/4) hands separately or together
Cadences: I-IV-I 6/4 - V (V7) - I (or i-iv-i 6/4- V7 or V - i) (4 voices - see AMTA handbook for examples), played with pedal in the keys of C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, C# Major and a, e, d, c, g, f, b harmonic minor
Arpeggios: hands separately or together, no pedal, 2 octaves in keys of G, A, Ab, Db, C# Major
Intervals: played isolated ascending from the tonic note, named by quality (M, m, P), quantity (number) and note names in same keys as above required scale keys.
LEVEL 8 - AGE 14
Mastery of concepts and etudes assigned in Technic Books PLUS:
Scales: 2 octaves, hands together in keys of C, G, F, D, A, E, B, Cb, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, C#, Gb, F# Major and a, e, d, c, g, f, b harmonic minor
Chords: I, IV, V (i, iv, V) chords and inversions, spelled aloud in root position, ascending and descending, V7 in root position resolved to I 6/4 (i 6/4) hands together
Cadences: I-IV-I 6/4-V (V7)- I or i-iv-i 6/4 V (V7) - i ( 4 voices - see AMTA handbook for examples) in same keys as required scales, played with pedal
Arpeggios: hands separately or together, no pedal, 2 octaves in keys of E, F, B, Cb, Gb, F# Major
Intervals: played isolated ascending from the tonic note, named by quality (M, m, P), quantity (number) and note names in same keys as required scales.
LEVEL 9 - AGE 15
Mastery of concepts and etudes assigned in Pianist in Motion Technic Book PLUS:
Scales: 2 octaves, hands together in 8th notes in keys of C, G, F,D, A, E, B, Cb, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, C#, Gb, F# Major and a, e, d, d, c, g, f, b, f#, c# harmonic minor
Chords: (, IV, V (i, iv, V) chords and inversions ascending and descending, hands together, spelled aloud in root position. V7 chord and inversions ascending, hands separately or together, spelled aloud in root position, ending with the resolution to I 6/4 (i 6/4) in same keys as above required scale keys.
Cadences: I-IV-I 6/4-V (V7) - I or i-iv-i 6/4-i-V (V7) - i in same keys as above required scale keys played with pedal
Arpeggios: hands together, no pedal, 2 octaves in keys of C, D, Ab, Major and c#, f# minor
Intervals: played isolated ascending from the tonic note, named by quality (M, m, P), quantity (number) and note names in keys same as required scale keys above.
LEVEL 10 - AGE 16+ (to be posted soon)
Video of Age 6 KT&T in C Major:
Video of Age 6 KT&T in G Major:
Video of Age 6 KT&T in F Major:
Video of Ages 7-8 KT&T in C Major:
Video of Ages 7-8 KT&T in G Major:
Video of Ages 7-8 KT&T in
A harmonic minor:
Video of Ages 7-8 KT&T in
E harmonic minor:
Video of Ages 7-8 KT&T in F Major:
Video of Ages 7-8 KT&T in
D harmonic minor:
Keyboard Theory and Technic
For videos of Age 9 KT&T in keys of
C, G, F Major and a, e, d harmonic minor, refer to above ages 7-8 videos.
(But remember, 9 year olds will play the Major scales hands together, and possibly add pedal to cadences if bench height issues do not pose a problem).
