Intermediate Practice Plan

Welcome to your Intermediate Practice Plan

“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.”
Ludwig Van Beethoven

1. Month

In order to get the most out of each month, focus your attention on the current month without thinking too much about what’s coming next month. 

I. The Best Way to Practice and Move Forward with the Curriculum

 

II. Sight Reading and Coordination Exercises

III. Basic Improvisation Exercises

 

That is all I am able to cover with early intermediate students in the first month. When I am working with kids, this routine takes more than a month to complete. There is a bunch of new notes to learn, things are getting complicated in the left hand, and we have to focus on the sound, because playing a piece correctly is not enough. We are here to express emotions. So let’s just take it slow in the beginning, because suddenly there are quite a few things to focus on and the top of all this, I want you to follow the chord symbols while you are improvising.
No rush.
Be patient with yourself.

Student: I consider myself an early intermediate student, but I managed to complete all the core lessons in a week.
Me: That’s just pure magic. Can you play the exercises 3 times in a row with no mistake?
Student: Yes, without hesitation. And I learned the name of the notes too.
Me: Hmm, can you keep the rhythm?
Student: Yes, my rhythm is steady and I can even count the rhythm while I am playing.
Me: Alright, alright… but can you play softly and express melancholy through your music?
Students: It is so melancholic, that my mom cries every time I play.
Me: That’s impressive. Very well, it sounds like you are ready to move to the next section.

I. Improvisation

II. Improvisation with Intervals
III. Major triads Workout

III. Create your first composition based on Triads
IV. Rhythm Mastery – Drum Exercises
V.  Rhythm Mastery – E Minor Workout
V.  Rhythm Mastery – Paradiddles
VI. Playing with a Band – Jazz
 

When you open a lesson, you will see the video on the top and under that, you will find a practice plan that belongs to that lesson. It helps you to get the best out of the lesson.

This plan can make you busy for several months. If you are not able to complete it, no worries. Your focus should be on Core Lessons, make the best out of it. If you managed to complete all the Core Lesson and the Additional Exercises in a week, well, you might be the next Mozart. If that’s the case, don’t panic, just contact us. Tell us what happened and Peter will fix your life. <3 

2. Month

Welcome to your 2. month Intermediate curriculum! I encourage you to check out the new lessons even if you are not entirely done with the previous month exercises and etudes.  The only reason you should put the new lessons on hold if you feel that they are too complicated.

I. Sight Reading – Low Intermediate Approach

(If the speed of the demonstration feels very slow to you, jump to the high intermediate Approach)

I. Sight Reading – High intermediate Approach

II. Compositional Improvisation

Collect your favorite parts from the etudes you have learned so far, and mix them up. You can’t go wrong. All the core lessons are in the key of E minor, so whatever you decide to glue together, will fit, no worries. Feel free to change things around to your taste, also, you might want to add parts, that wasn’t in the curriculum. That is completely fine. I did that too in the following example.

III. Left-Hand Accompaniment

I. Improvisation
II. Improvisation with Intervals
III. Minor Triad Workout
IV. Rhythm Mastery – 3:2

3. Month

Welcome to your 3. month intermediate curriculum!  If you are still working on something from the 2. month practice plan, don’t worry too much about the new lessons. Take as much time as you need. In the other hand, I encourage you to check out the new lessons even if you are not entirely done with the previous exercises and etudes.  The only reason you should put the new lessons on hold if you feel that they are too complicated.

I. Contemporary Piano Pieces

II. Rhythm

III. Duet Part

IV. Checkpoint

I. Improvisation (Mindset)
II. Minor Triad Etude Arpeggios
III. Technique and Improvisation
IV. Making Music with the Basics

4. Month

Welcome to your 4. month Intermediate curriculum! Our next goal is to read music and improvise in all 12 major and minor keys. Don’t worry about the new lessons if you are still working on something from the 3. month practice plan. Take as much time as you need. On the other hand, I encourage you to check out the new lessons even if you are not entirely done with the previous exercises and etudes.  The only reason you should put the new lessons on hold if you feel that they are too complicated. 

C Major Workout
A Minor Workout
G Major Workout
E Minor Workout

And that is it. You are done. Good job! When I am working with kids, this routine takes more than a month to complete. There are even more lessons in your 4. month membership, but If I were you, I would just stop here and make the best out of these lessons. I would rather master one etude/technique really good than to play all of them poorly. But as I said earlier too, I trust your judgment on this, and if you believe that you can handle more challenges, let’s continue.

I. Improvisation
II. Chords Workout

Rootless 7th Chords


III. Composition
IV. Making Music With Basics

5. Month

Welcome to your 5. month Intermediate curriculum! Don’t worry about the new lessons if you are still working on something from the 4. month practice plan. Take as much time as you need. In the other hand, I encourage you to check out the new lessons even if you are not entirely done with the previous exercises and etudes.  The only reason you should put the new lessons on hold if you feel that they are too complicated. 

I. E Major Workout
II. C# Minor Workout
III. B Major Etude
IV. G# Minor Workout
V. F Major Workout
VI. D Minor Workout
VII. Bb Major Workout
VIII. G Minor Workout
IX. Eb Major Workout
X. C Minor Workout
XI. Ab Major Workout
XII. F Minor  Workout
XIII. Db Major Workout
XIV. Bb Minor Workout
XV. Gb Major Workout
XVI. Eb Minor Workout 

I. Improvisation

Get Feedback on Your Playing!

If you are stuck, or not sure about something feel free to contact me.
Even though everything is clear, I would love to hear you playing and get to know you better.

In order to give you good advice and guidance, I would need the following information from you:

  • Your name, age, and main motivation.
  • How much time do you have for practice?
  • What lessons have you already completed or are still working on?
  • A link where I can see or hear you playing the exercises (Unlisted YouTube link, mp3 file, etc.) Play the entire exercise from the beginning to the end with a steady beat and let me know how long time did it take you to complete the lesson. If the recording is about improvisation, please improvise at least for 1 minute (with a steady beat).

Keep in touch!

Hugs & Love
David