Course Prospectus — A Year of Tasteful Practice (Age 14)
Picture practice like a slow, elegant coffee: warm, precise, and savoured. This 12‑month course pairs The New Virtuoso Pianist (Hanon‑Faber) for healthy gesture with Piano Adventures Scale & Chord Books (Levels 1–3) for pattern, harmony and dexterity. We’ll season pieces with medieval plainsong and secular tunes for modal fluency and creative imagination.
Daily routine (45–60 mins)
- 10–15 min: Hanon‑Faber warmups (gesture, relaxation)
- 10–15 min: Scales/arpeggios & chord families from Scale & Chord Books (gradual scope)
- 20 min: Repertoire (technique application, ACE: Aim, Connect, Express)
- 5–10 min: Sight‑reading, improvisation or modal ear training
Monthly progression (overview)
- Months 1–3: Foundational gesture; Scale & Chord L1; introduce plainchant listening.
- Months 4–6: L2 patterns, simple transposition, medieval secular songs, ensemble practice.
- Months 7–9: L3 expansion, Hanon endurance routines, compose/arrange in Dorian/Phrygian.
- Months 10–12: Consolidate, recital prep (3 contrasting pieces) and viva on style/technique.
Assessment & ACARA v9 mapping
Aligned to Creating, Performing, Responding and Understanding: fortnightly practice logs, term recitals, a portfolio of arrangements and a reflective journal. Rubrics assess technique, accuracy, expression, stylistic awareness and creative application.
How resources work together
Hanon‑Faber = healthy "how" (gesture, endurance). Scale & Chord = the "what" (patterns, harmony). Piano Adventures Teacher Atlas guides lesson sequence so every session builds musicality, not just mechanics.
Outcome: a confident, stylistically aware pianist with secure technique, modal literacy and creative voice — practiced slowly, polished surely.