Phase 1 Checkpoint: Foundation Expansion

After Sessions 1-5

Congratulations!

You have just completed the first five sessions of the intermediate course, and the transformation is already remarkable. You walked into Session 1 with 6 scales and 6 triads. Now you command 9 major scales across 2 octaves hands together, 4 harmonic minor scales, all 24 triads in all 3 inversions, plus diminished and augmented chords. You have played Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” theme, Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” first movement, and a chord inversion medley that would have been unthinkable just five weeks ago. The keyboard is no longer a mystery with a few familiar corners — it is becoming your instrument.

Self-Assessment Checklist

Rate yourself honestly: Mastered / Needs Work / Not Yet

Knowledge (Theory & Concepts)

• Can you name all sharps in D major, A major, and E major key signatures without hesitation?
• Can you name all flats in Bb major, Eb major, and Ab major key signatures without hesitation?
• Can you explain what an enharmonic equivalent is and give 3 examples (e.g., C# = Db)?
• Can you describe the difference between natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor?
• Can you explain what the raised 7th degree does in harmonic minor and why it matters?
• Can you define root position, 1st inversion, and 2nd inversion for a triad?
• Can you explain what voice leading is and why inversions enable it?
• Can you identify all four triad qualities (major, minor, diminished, augmented) by their construction formula?

Technical Skills (Scales)

• Can you play C and G major scales, 2 octaves, hands together, at 80 BPM with smooth thumb-under?
• Can you play D major scale, 2 octaves, hands together, at 60-72 BPM with correct fingering (F# and C#)?
• Can you play A major scale, 2 octaves, hands together, at 60 BPM with correct fingering (F#, C#, G#)?
• Can you play E major scale, 2 octaves, hands together, at 60 BPM (F#, C#, G#, D#)?
• Can you play Bb major scale, 2 octaves, hands together, at 60 BPM with correct RH starting finger (4)?
• Can you play Eb major scale, 2 octaves, hands together, at 60 BPM with correct RH starting finger (3)?
• Can you play Ab major scale, 2 octaves, hands together, at 50-60 BPM?
• Can you play contrary motion C major scale (hands moving in opposite directions from Middle C)?
• Can you play A harmonic minor, 2 octaves, hands together, at 50-60 BPM (remember G#)?
• Can you play D harmonic minor, 2 octaves, hands together, at 50-60 BPM (Bb + C#)?
• Can you play E harmonic minor, 2 octaves, hands together, at 50-60 BPM (D#)?
• Can you play G harmonic minor, 2 octaves, hands together, at 50-60 BPM (Eb + F#)?

Technical Skills (Chords)

• Can you play all 12 major triads in root position from memory?
• Can you play all 12 major triads in 1st and 2nd inversion?
• Can you play all 12 minor triads in root position from memory?
• Can you play all 12 minor triads in 1st and 2nd inversion?
• Can you play B diminished and F# diminished triads?
• Can you play C augmented and Ab augmented triads?
• Can you demonstrate smooth voice leading between C major, F major (2nd inv), and G major (1st inv)?

Musical Skills (Repertoire & Performance)

• Can you play the “Clair de Lune” simplified theme (12 measures) with both hands, pedal, and pp-p dynamics at 60 BPM?
• Can you play the “Moonlight Sonata” simplified theme (8 measures) with even RH triplets and sustained LH bass notes at 56 BPM?
• Can you play the chord inversion medley (14 measures) with smooth voice leading at 72 BPM?
• Can you play the D major scale etude with dynamics (crescendo up, diminuendo down) at 72 BPM?

Ear Training & Creativity

• Can you identify major 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, and major 6th intervals by ear? (Score ___/5)
• Can you distinguish major and minor chords by ear?
• Can you distinguish natural minor and harmonic minor scales by ear?
• Can you improvise a short melody using only notes from D major scale?
• Can you identify diminished and augmented chords by their sound quality (tense vs dreamy)?

Scoring

• All “Mastered”: Outstanding! You have a rock-solid foundation. Move to Phase 2 with confidence — 7th chords and arpeggios await.
• Mostly “Mastered” with 1-2 “Needs Work”: Move on, but keep practicing those items daily. They will continue to develop alongside new material.
• 3+ “Not Yet”: Spend another week on this phase before moving on. See the remediation guide below.

If You’re Not Ready

Scales not fluent at target BPM:

• Go back to Session 2 (sharp scales) and Session 3 (flat scales). Practice each new scale hands-separate first, then hands-together at 40 BPM. Increase by 4 BPM each day. Spend 15 minutes daily on scales alone for 2 weeks.

Harmonic minor scales shaky:

• Go back to Session 4. Focus on ONE harmonic minor scale per day (A, then D, then E, then G). The raised 7th is the sticking point — say “sharp” out loud each time you play it. Spend 10 minutes daily for 1 week.

Triads and inversions incomplete:

• Go back to Session 5. Do not try to memorise all 72 shapes at once. Start with the 6 triads you know from the beginner course (C, F, G, Am, Dm, Em) and add their inversions. Then add 2 new roots per day. Spend 10 minutes daily for 2 weeks.

Diminished/augmented chords unfamiliar:

• These are less common, so they take more repetition. Play B dim and C aug 10 times each at the start of every practice session. After 1 week, they will feel natural.

Ear training weak (under 3/5 intervals):

• Spend 5 minutes daily on interval recognition. Play C to each interval, say the name, listen. The song association trick helps: Perfect 4th = “Here Comes the Bride,” Perfect 5th = “Twinkle Twinkle.”

What’s Coming Next

Phase 2 opens the door to richer harmony and more expressive playing. You will learn 7th chords — the chords that make music sound jazzy, soulful, and sophisticated. You will master arpeggios — playing chord notes one at a time across the keyboard. You will encounter compound time (6/8 and 12/8) for the first time, with “Greensleeves” and your first Bollywood arrangement “Tere Bina.” You will play advanced chord progressions (ii-V-I, circle of 5ths) and dive into classical repertoire with Bach’s “Minuet in G” and Beethoven’s “Fur Elise.” Phase 2 is where your musical vocabulary truly expands.