Mrs. Curwen has 1st Step broken apart into four separate Lessons. Each ‘Lesson,’ though, will likely take a child multiple weeks to complete. I would assume most 8 or 9 year olds would finish 1st Step in one semester or approximately four to five months.
Instead of using the word lesson, I’m choosing to use the word Part. (Since the word lesson may imply that these requirements can all be completed in one sitting.)
There are four parts of requirements for 1st Step. This page details Part 2 only. If you haven’t completed Part 1 yet, you can find it here.
Which piano books are needed for 1st Step, Part 1? 1st Step book (Kinross) FYI – for 1st Step, Parts 3 & 4, your student will also need this final book: 1st Solo Album.
You will need three books to complete the below requirements. I sell reprints of Mrs. Curwen’s books in my shop. You may choose to find and buy them elsewhere, but page numbers and duets may differ because of the varying editions published.
Interval Exercises
1st Reading Exercises
Do we need to move through the videos in their order of presentation below?
Are there any supplemental books I recommend for students working through Step 1? Your child may not be ready for any of these books yet if just starting these Part 2 lessons below. I have a post here describing and linking to the supplemental books I use with my current students. These books would be applicable for 1st Step, Parts 1 through 4.
Yes! I do use other books with my students. I do not follow the methods in the other books, but I appreciate some of the music written for the children to play. Mrs. Curwen wisely moves very gradually with her method. For example, a beginner student is only playing in intervals of seconds using her method. Giving a child a non-Curwen book will mean the child may struggle playing varying intervals no matter how simple the song. Use good judgment as to when to present a child with supplemental material outside Mrs. Curwen’s method.
How fast should my child / student be moving through 1st Step?
This is going to vary per each student. I would suggest making it a goal to complete four or five videos a week. Alongside the videos, the child should be working on Finger Exercises or Reading Exercises or duets every day.
When will my child begin sounding like a fluent pianist?
I’ve had about two years of experience using Mrs. Curwen’s method at this point. Usually around the end of 1st Step and the beginning of 2nd Step, I being hearing fluency and musicality. This is obviously a VERY general answer so please use judgement when applying this to your child.
Requirements for 1st Step, Part 2.
Using Mrs. Curwen’s Teacher’s Guide, below is a numbered list of all facets required for 1st Step, Part 2. Click the links below to access each short video. A few notes to teachers and recommended homework are included with each.
Some of the numbered items do not yet have links/videos. All will be posted by Winter 2020.
- Finger Exercise 1
- Locality and Naming of Notes. Treble Clef
- Locality and Naming of Notes. Bass Clef
- Note Naming Dictation
- Finger Exercise 2
- Reading by Interval. Treble Clef
- Reading by Interval. Bass Clef
- Ear Training
- Exercise in Time. Part A
- Exercise in Time. Part B
- Finger Exercise 3
- Time Dictation
- Time & Interval Combined. Part A
- Time & Interval Combined. Part B
- Additional Reading Exercise #2
- Additional Reading Exercise #3
- Additional Reading Exercise #4
- Duet #5
- Duet #6
- Finger Exercise 4
- Unbarred Sentence. Page 12, #2
- Finger Exercise 5
A note about duets from Mrs. Curwen: “Do not keep the child at one duet until it is quite worked up in expression or speed. That would be wearisome. But keep all the duets in practice, gradually developing the phrasing and expression. One old duet should be part of each day’s practice. To play once through they average half a minute to a minute.” (Page 94, Mrs. Curwen’s Teacher’s Guide)