Candidates must play all Technical Tests from memory, ascending and descending with good tone and logical fingering, at a steady tempo. The metronome marking indicates minimum speed.

Technical Requirements: Piano Grade 2

Scales

*In Grade 2, all scales to be played in eighth notes with tempo at quarter note = 80

1. Scales: 2 octaves, hands separately for the following keys

• C, G, F and B-flat major
• A, E, D and G minor (natural, harmonic and melodic)

2. Staccato scales, hands separately for ONE octave

• C, G, F and B-flat major

3. Parallel motion scales, for BOTH hands and ONE octave

• C and G major only

4. Contrary motion scale, hands together for 2 octaves

• G major only

5. Formula pattern scale, hands together for 2 octaves

• C major only

Triads

1. Triads in root position and inversions, in the following keys:

• C, G, F and B-flat major
• A, E, D and G minor
• Broken triads, hands separately, ONE octave and played in triplets; tempo: quarter note=60
• Solid triads, hands separately, ONE octave played in quarter notes followed by quarter rest; tempo: quarter note=112

Candidates must play all Technical Tests from memory, ascending and descending with good tone and logical fingering, at a steady tempo. The metronome marking indicates minimum speed.

Technical Requirements: Piano Grade 1

Scales

1. Scales in TWO octaves for the keys: C, G and F major plus A, E and D minor (natural and harmonic)

• hands separately in 2 octaves, played in eighth notes
• tempo: quarter note=69

2. Staccato scales: C, G and F major

• hands separately for ONE octave, played in eighth notes
• tempo: quarter note=69

3. Contrary motion scale in C major

• hands together for 2 octaves, played in eighth notes
• tempo: quarter note=69

4. Chromatic scale, beginning on C

• hands separately, from tonic to dominant; played in eighth notes
• tempo: quarter note=69

Chords

1. Triads in root position and inversions: in the keys C, G and F major plus A, E and D minor

• Broken triads: hands separately for ONE octave, played in triplets; tempo: quarter note = 50
• Solid triads: hands separately for ONE octave, played in quarter notes followed by a quarter rest; tempo: quarter note = 100

Candidates must play all Technical Tests from memory, ascending and descending with good tone and logical fingering, at a steady tempo. The metronome marking indicates minimum speed.

Technical Requirements: Piano Preparatory B

Scales

1. Pentascales in the following keys: A, E and F major plus E and D minor

• hands separately
• play pentascale (tonic to dominant to tonic) ending with solid root position triad; played in eighth notes
• tempo: quarter note = 60

2. Scales in the following keys: C and G major plus A minor (natural)

• hands separately in ONE octave, played in eighth notes
• tempo: quarter note = 60

3. Contrary motion scale in C major

• hands together for ONE octave, played in eighth notes
• tempo: quarter note = 60

Triads

1. Triads played in root position and 1st inversion, broken in C and G major plus A minor

• hands separately for ONE octave, played in triplets
• tempo: quarter note = 50

Candidates must play all Technical Tests from memory, ascending and descending with good tone and logical fingering, at a steady tempo. The metronome marking indicates minimum speed.

Technical Requirements: Piano Preparatory A

Pentascales (five-finger pattern) in following keys: C, G, D major and A minor

• hands separately
• play pentascale (tonic to dominant to tonic) ending with solid root position triad; played in quarter notes
• tempo: quarter note = 100

Piano teachers and instructors subscribing to the NMCP/RCM examinations would do well to add the Piano Syllabus 2008 Edition to their resources. The Royal Conservatory of Music Official Examination Syllabus for the piano is applicable to participants of both the RCM examinations and the National Music Certificate Program. It is published by Frederick Harris Music Company.

Because there is no online version of this Piano Syllabus, I am in the process of gathering all the technical requirements for all grades of the NMCP/RCM piano examinations and compiling them for easy online access and reference. I hope this will be a helpful resource for teachers and students preparing for the NMCP and RCM piano examinations.

Here’s an inspirational video newscast on the important of music in a young person’s life.

International Mozarteum Foundation

August 2 marked the day when these two pieces of the Master Mozart was introduced as a performance to the world. Performed by clavichordist Florian Birsak, the first piece is probably the first movement of a harpsichord Concerto in G (marked molto allegro) – and the second is technically-demanding Prelude in G major.

Harvard professor Robert Levin describes them as “a bit crazy“.

Commentary: Crazier still is the fact that these works were even discovered! Can you imagine how many undiscovered gems like these have yet to surface? We can only hope that they will, in our lifetime! Here are other incredible musical ‘finds’ that have made it to life’s stage:

200-year old Beethoven piece gets premiered

New Beethoven piece discovered in Berlin

Granados “Song of the Stars” Found!

Discovered Beethoven Manuscript Auctioned at Sotheby’s