Phase 1 Checkpoint: Foundation

After Sessions 1-5

Congratulations!

Five sessions ago, you sat down at your CT-X9000IN not knowing where Middle C was. Now you can find any white key on the keyboard, play melodies with each hand independently, read the treble clef staff, and you have started coordinating both hands together. You have already played “Hot Cross Buns,” “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “Ode to Joy,” “Jingle Bells” (left hand!), “Jana Gana Mana” (opening), and “First Steps Together” with both hands. That is six pieces in five sessions. You are building real musical skill.

Self-Assessment Checklist

Rate yourself honestly for each item: Mastered / Needs Work / Not Yet

Knowledge

I can name all 7 white keys on the keyboard (A, B, C, D, E, F, G)
I can find any white key within 3 seconds using the black-key group pattern (groups of 2 and groups of 3)
I can explain where Middle C is located on the keyboard (white key to the left of the 2-black-key group near the centre)
I can identify the 5 treble clef line notes using “Every Good Boy Does Fine” (E, G, B, D, F)
I can identify the 4 treble clef space notes using “FACE” (F, A, C, E)
I can identify the 5 bass clef line notes using “Good Boys Do Fine Always” (G, B, D, F, A)
I can identify the 4 bass clef space notes using “All Cows Eat Grass” (A, C, E, G)
I can explain the difference between a whole note (4 beats), half note (2 beats), and quarter note (1 beat)
I can explain what the grand staff is (treble clef staff on top, bass clef staff on bottom, connected by a bracket)

Technical Skills

I sit with correct posture: feet flat, front of bench, back straight, forearms parallel to the floor
My fingers are curved (holding an imaginary orange) with fingertips on the keys, not flat pads
I know all 5 finger numbers on both hands (thumb = 1, pinky = 5 on both hands)
I can play the RH C position 5-finger pattern ascending and descending: C(1)-D(2)-E(3)-F(4)-G(5) and back
I can play the LH C position 5-finger pattern ascending and descending: C(5)-D(4)-E(3)-F(2)-G(1) and back
I can play steps (C-D-E) and skips (C-E, D-F) in C position with my RH
I can play a parallel-motion exercise with both hands simultaneously (same notes, one octave apart)
I can play Exercise 4 from Session 5: LH holds a whole note while RH plays quarter notes on top
I can demonstrate loud vs. soft playing using the CT-X9000IN’s touch response

Musical Skills (Repertoire)

I can play “Hot Cross Buns” with RH from start to finish without stopping (Session 1)
I can play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” with RH from start to finish without stopping (Session 2)
I can play the simplified “Ode to Joy” with RH from start to finish (Session 3)
I can play the simplified “Jingle Bells” with LH from start to finish (Session 4)
I can play the opening of “Jana Gana Mana” with RH (Session 4)
I can play “First Steps Together” with both hands (Session 5)
I can play at least one piece with dynamic variation (soft, medium, loud)

Ear Training

I can tell whether a note is higher or lower than another note by listening (without looking at the keyboard)
I can find a note on the keyboard by ear — someone plays a note and I can match it within the C-to-G range
I can play back a simple 3-note pattern from memory after hearing it once

CT-X9000IN Skills

I can power on the keyboard and select Grand Piano (Tone 000)
I can adjust the volume to a comfortable level
I can use the MIDI recorder to record one hand and play the other on top (Session 5)

Scoring

Count your items:

All or nearly all “Mastered”: Outstanding! You have a rock-solid foundation. Move to Phase 2 with confidence. Sessions 6-10 will build on everything here.
Mostly “Mastered” with 1-3 “Needs Work”: You are ready for Phase 2, but keep practicing the “Needs Work” items during your warm-ups. They will strengthen as you continue.
Several “Not Yet” items: Spend another week on Phase 1 before starting Session 6. Focus on the specific items below.

If You’re Not Ready

Here is exactly what to do for each common gap:

Gap	How to Fix
Cannot find notes quickly on the keyboard	Go back to Session 2, Theory section. Practice the note-finding exercise: find every C, then every F, then random notes. Do this for 3 minutes daily until you can find any note within 3 seconds.
Treble or bass clef reading is shaky	Review Session 3 (treble clef) and Session 4 (bass clef). Write the mnemonics on a sticky note and put it on your keyboard. Quiz yourself on 10 random notes daily. Use a free app like “Music Tutor” for additional practice.
LH feels much weaker than RH	This is completely normal. Spend extra time on the LH 5-finger pattern from Session 4. Play “Jingle Bells” LH 5 extra times per practice session. The LH catches up with dedicated attention.
Both-hands coordination is very difficult	Revisit Session 5’s Exercise 1 (parallel motion). Play it at an extremely slow tempo (one note every 2 seconds). The brain needs time to develop the neural pathways for coordinating two hands. This improves with patient, slow practice.
Cannot use the MIDI recorder	Re-read the CT-X9000IN Tips in Session 5. Try recording a simple 4-note melody. If the recorder is not working, check that you are pressing the correct buttons in sequence: RECORD, select track, START/STOP to begin, START/STOP to end.

What’s Coming Next

Phase 2 (Sessions 6-10) is called “Building Blocks,” and here is what you have to look forward to:

Session 6: Your first complete song with both hands together — “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” This is the milestone that makes it all click.
Session 7: The C major scale with proper fingering and your first chord (C major triad). You will hear what harmony sounds like.
Session 8: Rhythm mastery with time signatures, eighth notes, and the G major chord. Plus your first song with chord accompaniment.
Session 9: Three chords (C, F, G) and the I-IV-V progression — the foundation of all popular music. Including a Bollywood melody!
Session 10: The G major scale, your first recording of a complete performance, and a celebration of how far you have come.

Phase 2 is where individual skills start combining into real music-making. Everything you built in Phase 1 is about to pay off.