What does self-taught look like? This is it. It’s a lot of work.
My Daily Routine
* In order
Practice: ABRSM all requirements per current level, such as pieces, scales and arpeggios
Practice: Alfred pieces per current level. Every piece that I know, at least once
Sight-reading: I play random pieces from any level 1-2 book
New Piece: Learn at least 1 piano piece at current level — practice, practice, practice: 30+ minutes
Studies: Review and practice from the Alfred Theory book by level
Perfecting: Other pieces, until they have reached performance level
Maintenance: Practice the ABRSM requirements for previous level
Performance: To maintain a piece I want to remember, play at performance level
My Syllabus | My Notes | My Practice Sheet
Training Tips (Reminding Myself)
Listening: Listen to a professional recording, and then listen to each part you play
Define technique: Acknowledge and think about techniques used in the piece
Overview: Before playing, review the piece. Look at patterns, signatures, key, etc. Ask yourself, what is the piece about?
Quality over quantity: Always focus on the quality of a session, not just how many bars or notes, or how long a session is
Practice vs Performance: Practice is about learning and fixing mistakes, bar by bar, repeating the same bar
Practice vs Performance: Performance is about playing the piece straight through
Yes. You should be using a metronome
Level Up Formula
* Pieces played from memory
Part 1
8 Alfred Pieces, or Pieces Associated with Level
3 ABRSM Pieces from Syllabus
Part 2
1 Composition
ABRSM Scale & Arp Requirements
3 Hanon Exercises
Piano Challenges
* I have noticed the most improvement doing challenges
100 Day – Level 2 General Requirements – Completed on 8/11/2022
100 Day – Level 2 Theory, Sight-Reading, and Composition – Completed on 11/21/2022
50 Day – Level 2 Capstone – Level Completion – Completed on 1/22/2023
Level 3 General Requirements – Not Started
Level 3 Theory, Sight-Reading, and Composition – Not Started
Level 3 Capstone – Level Completion – Not Started
Advanced Studies
Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist In Sixty Exercises For The Piano
Future Levels
ABRSM Teacher Reference Videos Level 3 | ABRSM Level 3
Alfred Teacher Reference Videos Level 3
Alfred’s Basic Piano – Lesson Book Level 3
ABRSM Teacher Reference Videos Level 4 | ABRSM Level 4
Alfred’s Basic Adult – Reference Lesson Book Level 4
Alfred’s Basic Piano – Reference Recital Book Level 4