Phase 2 Checkpoint: Building Blocks
After Sessions 6-10
Section titled “After Sessions 6-10”Congratulations!
Section titled “Congratulations!”You have completed the first half of the course. Think about where you were at Session 1: you could not find Middle C. Now you are playing complete songs with both hands, using chords, switching between two major scales, counting in different time signatures, and accompanying yourself. You played “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” with both hands, learned the C major scale with thumb-under technique, built three major chords, played “When the Saints Go Marching In” and a Bollywood melody with chord accompaniment, learned the G major scale, and recorded yourself performing. That is a transformation, not just progress.
Self-Assessment Checklist
Section titled “Self-Assessment Checklist”Rate yourself honestly for each item: Mastered / Needs Work / Not Yet
Knowledge
Section titled “Knowledge”- I can explain what whole steps and half steps are (whole step = 2 keys apart; half step = adjacent keys)
- I can state the major scale formula: W-W-H-W-W-W-H
- I can explain what a chord (triad) is: three notes played simultaneously, built from the 1st, 3rd, and 5th of a scale
- I can name the notes in the C major chord (C, E, G), F major chord (F, A, C), and G major chord (G, B, D)
- I can explain what 4/4 time means (4 beats per measure, quarter note gets 1 beat)
- I can explain what 3/4 time means (3 beats per measure, quarter note gets 1 beat)
- I can explain what an eighth note is (half a beat; 2 eighth notes = 1 quarter note)
- I can explain what a key signature is (sharps or flats at the beginning of a piece that apply to the whole piece)
- I know that G major has one sharp: F#
- I can explain what the I-IV-V progression means in the key of C (I = C major, IV = F major, V = G major)
Technical Skills
Section titled “Technical Skills”- I can play the C major scale with RH using correct fingering (1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5) including thumb-under at 60 BPM
- I can play the C major scale with LH using correct fingering (5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1) including cross-over at 60 BPM
- I can play the G major scale with RH using correct fingering at 50+ BPM (remembering F#)
- I can play the G major scale with LH using correct fingering at 50+ BPM (remembering F#)
- I can play the C major chord (C-E-G) with RH: C(1)+E(3)+G(5) — all three notes sounding simultaneously
- I can play the C major chord with LH: C(5)+E(3)+G(1)
- I can play the F major chord with LH: F(5)+A(3)+C(1)
- I can play the G major chord with LH: G(5)+B(3)+D(1)
- I can switch smoothly between C and G chords with my LH (no pause between chords)
- I can switch smoothly between C, F, and G chords with my LH in the I-IV-V progression
- I can play eighth notes evenly at 60 BPM (two notes per metronome click)
- I can play a complete song with RH melody and LH chord accompaniment
Musical Skills (Repertoire)
Section titled “Musical Skills (Repertoire)”- I can play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” with both hands from start to finish (Session 6)
- I can play a melody with C chord drone accompaniment — “Ode to Joy” with LH C chord (Session 7)
- I can play “When the Saints Go Marching In” with RH melody and LH C/G chord accompaniment (Session 8)
- I can play “Tujhe Dekha Toh Ye Jaana Sanam” (simplified) with RH melody and LH C/F/G chords (Session 9)
- I can play “Let It Be” (simplified) with both hands at 72 BPM (Session 10) — OR — “Jana Gana Mana” full RH + simple LH
- I can play with the metronome and stay in time for an entire piece
- I can play with intentional dynamic variation: verse softer, chorus louder
Ear Training
Section titled “Ear Training”- I can hear the difference between a major chord and a minor chord when played side by side (major = bright/happy, minor = darker/sadder)
- I can hear when a chord change happens in a progression (the harmony shifts)
- I can figure out the first 3-4 notes of a familiar melody by ear on the keyboard
CT-X9000IN Skills
Section titled “CT-X9000IN Skills”- I can set and use the metronome at a specific BPM
- I can use the built-in rhythm accompaniment to play along with a beat
- I can record a complete performance and play it back for self-review
Scoring
Section titled “Scoring”Count your items:
- All or nearly all “Mastered”: Excellent work! You have a strong command of the building blocks. Phase 3 will expand your harmonic and expressive range significantly. Move on with confidence.
- Mostly “Mastered” with 1-4 “Needs Work”: You are ready for Phase 3. Keep the “Needs Work” items in your daily warm-up routine. They will solidify as you continue.
- Several “Not Yet” items: Spend another week focused on the gaps below before starting Session 11. There is no rush — a strong Phase 2 foundation makes everything easier.
If You’re Not Ready
Section titled “If You’re Not Ready”| Gap | How to Fix |
|---|---|
| C major scale fingering feels awkward (thumb-under is shaky) | Go back to Session 7, Technique section. Practice ONLY the crossover point: E(3) to F(1) back and forth, 20 times daily. Then play the full scale at 40 BPM (slower than prescribed). The thumb-under becomes smooth with repetition. |
| G major scale — keep forgetting F# | Place a small sticky note on your keyboard near the F# key. Every time you play the G major scale, say “F-sharp” out loud when you reach that note. After a week, the sharp will be automatic. |
| Chord transitions have gaps of silence | Isolate the specific transition that is slow. For C to F: practice ONLY C chord (4 beats) to F chord (4 beats), back and forth, 20 times at 50 BPM. Prepare the next chord shape in your mind while holding the current chord. All three fingers should move at the same time, not one by one. |
| Cannot play both hands together for a full song | Use the MIDI recorder method from Session 5: record the LH part, play it back, and perform the RH on top. This gives you the experience of hearing both hands while only controlling one. After you can do this comfortably, try both hands together starting with just 2 measures at a time. |
| Eighth notes are uneven or rushed | Set the metronome to 50 BPM. Play the eighth-note exercise from Session 8 on a single note (Middle C). Count “1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and” aloud. Each number and each “and” gets one note. If your notes drift off the beat, slow down further. |
| Cannot hear the chord change | Play C chord for 8 beats, then F chord for 8 beats, then back to C. Close your eyes. The shift from C to F has a distinct “colour change.” Repeat this 5 times daily. After a few days, the shift becomes obvious. |
What’s Coming Next
Section titled “What’s Coming Next”Phase 3 (Sessions 11-15) is called “Integration,” and it opens up a whole new emotional palette:
- Session 11: The minor world — A natural minor scale and your first minor chord (Am). Music is about to get dramatic and emotional.
- Session 12: Two more minor chords (Dm, Em) plus chord inversions — the secret to smooth, professional-sounding chord changes.
- Session 13: The I-V-vi-IV progression — the 4-chord engine behind hundreds of hit songs. You will play “Tum Hi Ho” from Aashiqui 2. Plus transposing to the key of G.
- Session 14: Three accompaniment styles (block chords, arpeggios, Alberti bass) and the sustain pedal. “Imagine” by John Lennon.
- Session 15: The F major scale, the Bb chord, accidentals, and musical form (verse/chorus/bridge). “Lean on Me.”
Phase 3 is where you stop being a student playing exercises and start being a musician playing songs. The jump in musicality is significant — and you are ready for it.