What Comes Next -- Advanced
Your Roadmap Beyond the Intermediate Course
Section titled “Your Roadmap Beyond the Intermediate Course”You Are Here
Section titled “You Are Here”You have completed the Piano School 25-Session Intermediate Course. You entered with ABRSM Grade 1 skills and have reached ABRSM Grade 3 — the internationally recognised threshold for intermediate competence. You can play scales in all common keys, build and use 7th chords, improvise over blues and pentatonic progressions, read lead sheets, sight-read at Grade 2-3, and perform across four genres. That is a genuine achievement.
Now the question: what next?
The answer depends on what kind of musician you want to become. The intermediate course gave you a broad foundation. Advanced study is where you specialise — or continue broadening, on your own terms. This guide maps out both paths.
What Advanced Study Looks Like
Section titled “What Advanced Study Looks Like”The Reality of Grade 4-5
Section titled “The Reality of Grade 4-5”ABRSM Grade 4-5 represents a significant step up in every dimension:
| Dimension | Grade 3 (Where You Are) | Grade 4-5 (Where You Are Going) |
|---|---|---|
| Scales | 2-octave major and harmonic minor at 80-100 BPM | 4-octave scales at 100-120 BPM, chromatic scales, scale in 3rds and 6ths |
| Chords | Triads + 7th chords, basic inversions | Extended chords (9ths, 11ths, 13ths), diminished 7ths, secondary dominants in all keys |
| Repertoire | Simplified arrangements, 2-3 minutes each | Original compositions, 4-8 minutes, demanding both hands independently |
| Sight-Reading | Grade 2-3 pieces, both hands, simple keys | Grade 4-5 pieces with complex rhythms, key changes, and ornaments |
| Theory | Key signatures, 7th chords, modes | Part-writing, modulation analysis, counterpoint, form analysis |
| Expression | Dynamics, articulation, basic phrasing | Interpretive depth, stylistic nuance, personal artistic choices |
Timeline expectation: Reaching Grade 5 from Grade 3 typically takes 2-3 years with regular practice (45-60 minutes daily) and periodic instruction. Grade 4 is achievable in 9-12 months of focused work. These are realistic estimates based on ABRSM examination statistics.
Practice expectation: Advanced study requires 45-60 minutes of deliberate practice daily at minimum. This is not casual playing — it is structured work on specific technical and musical goals.
Specialisation Tracks
Section titled “Specialisation Tracks”You do not have to follow all four tracks. Choose one or two that excite you, or continue across all four at your own pace.
Track 1: Classical Piano
Section titled “Track 1: Classical Piano”What it is: The traditional path through the Western classical repertoire — Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th-century music. This is the path to ABRSM Grade 5+ and eventual conservatory-level playing.
What you will work on:
- Bach Two-Part Inventions (the next step after the Minuet — genuine counterpoint with two independent melodies)
- Mozart Piano Sonatas (Sonata in C major K.545 is the classic Grade 4-5 entry point)
- Chopin Nocturnes (Op. 9 No. 2 is the most accessible and one of the most beautiful piano pieces ever written)
- Beethoven “Pathetique” Sonata 2nd movement (the full version of the slow movement)
- Introduction to Baroque counterpoint — understanding how two independent melodic lines work together
- Pedal technique refinement for Romantic repertoire
- Sight-reading from ABRSM Grade 4-5 specimen papers
Recommended pieces (in order of difficulty):
- Bach: Invention No. 1 in C major (Grade 4)
- Mozart: Sonata in C major K.545, 1st movement (Grade 5)
- Chopin: Nocturne in Eb major Op. 9 No. 2 (Grade 5-6)
- Beethoven: “Pathetique” Sonata, 2nd movement (Grade 5)
- Debussy: “Clair de Lune” — the full version, not the simplified theme (Grade 6-7)
When to consider upgrading your keyboard: For serious classical study beyond Grade 5, a weighted 88-key digital piano (such as the Yamaha P-145, Roland FP-30X, or Casio PX-S1100) is strongly recommended. The CT-X9000IN’s 61 unweighted keys limit your ability to develop the touch control and key range that advanced classical repertoire demands. For Grade 4-5, the CT-X9000IN is still adequate.
Track 2: Jazz Piano
Section titled “Track 2: Jazz Piano”What it is: The path into jazz standards, voice leading, improvisation, and the rich harmonic language of jazz.
What you will work on:
- Jazz standards from the Real Book (the jazz musician’s bible)
- Voice leading — smooth movement between complex chords
- Walking bass + comping (LH walks, RH plays chords on the offbeats)
- Improvisation over ii-V-I progressions in all 12 keys
- Chord extensions (9ths, 11ths, 13ths) and altered chords
- Transcription — learning solos from recordings by ear
- Playing in a combo setting (piano + bass + drums)
Recommended pieces and exercises:
- “Blue Bossa” (simple bossa nova, ii-V-I in two keys — Grade 4 jazz)
- “All The Things You Are” (the definitive ii-V-I standard — Grade 4-5 jazz)
- “Take the A Train” (swing standard, Strayhorn — Grade 4 jazz)
- Oscar Peterson transcriptions (for technical and improvisational study)
- Bill Evans “Peace Piece” (for harmonic exploration)
Essential jazz skill: ii-V-I in all 12 keys with smooth voice leading. This is the single most important exercise for a jazz pianist. You know 3 keys. Learn all 12 by working through the circle of 5ths: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, B, E, A, D, G.
The CT-X9000IN for jazz: Your keyboard’s Electric Piano tones (Rhodes-style) and Jazz Organ tones are excellent for jazz practice. The CT-X9000IN works well for jazz study at all levels — jazz does not require weighted keys or an 88-key range as urgently as classical music does.
Track 3: Pop/Contemporary
Section titled “Track 3: Pop/Contemporary”What it is: The path into arrangement, production, and professional keyboard playing for contemporary music.
What you will work on:
- Arrangement skills — creating full keyboard arrangements from chord charts
- Production basics with MIDI — connecting your CT-X9000IN to a computer (GarageBand, Logic, Ableton) via USB
- Chord-melody style — playing melody and chords simultaneously
- Accompanying singers — following a vocalist, dynamic sensitivity, when to fill and when to support
- Rhythm programming and loop-based accompaniment
- Song-writing — melody, chords, structure, lyrics
Recommended skills to develop:
- Play any pop song from a chord chart immediately — no preparation
- Create 3 different LH accompaniment patterns for the same chord progression
- Transpose songs on the fly (move a song from one key to another for a singer)
- Layer textures using CT-X9000IN layer/split modes for performance
- Record and produce a simple track using MIDI-to-computer workflow
The CT-X9000IN for pop: Your keyboard is ideal for pop and contemporary work. Its 800 tones, rhythm accompaniment, layer/split modes, and MIDI output make it a genuine performance and production tool. No need to upgrade for this track — the CT-X9000IN does everything a pop keyboard player needs.
Track 4: Indian Classical Music
Section titled “Track 4: Indian Classical Music”What it is: The path deeper into the Hindustani classical tradition — more ragas, taal mastery, and the rich system of raga-based melodic exploration.
What you will work on:
- Deeper raga system: learn 5-10 more ragas beyond Yaman, Bhairavi, and Des. Priority ragas:
- Raga Kafi (equivalent to Dorian mode — versatile, used in many Bollywood songs)
- Raga Malkauns (pentatonic — deeply meditative, late-night raga)
- Raga Darbari Kanada (majestic, slow — associated with Emperor Akbar’s court)
- Raga Khamaj (light, romantic — commonly used in thumri and Bollywood)
- Raga Bihag (evening raga, similar to Yaman but with natural Ma)
- Raga time theory — understanding which ragas are performed at which time of day and why
- Taal mastery:
- Teentaal (16 beats: dha dhin dhin dha / dha dhin dhin dha / dha tin tin ta / ta dhin dhin dha)
- Jhaptaal (10 beats: dhi na / dhi dhi na / ti na / dhi dhi na)
- Ektaal (12 beats)
- Bandish structure — learning traditional compositions within a raga framework
- Alap, jod, jhala — the improvisatory structure of a classical raga performance
- Advanced meend, gamak, and kan swar (ornamental techniques)
Recommended resources for Indian classical keyboard:
- Study with a Hindustani classical musician (ideally a vocalist or harmonium player — keyboard technique for Indian music comes from vocal tradition)
- Listen extensively: Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (bansuri), Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (santoor), Pandit Ravi Shankar (sitar) — their phrasing translates to keyboard
- Practice raga-based improvisation using the CT-X9000IN Indian rhythm patterns as a taal accompaniment
The CT-X9000IN for Indian music: Your keyboard’s 43 Indian tones and 39 Indian rhythms make it one of the best affordable keyboards for Indian music practice. The pitch bend wheel enables meend. Continue using these features — they are genuinely valuable.
Recommended Resources
Section titled “Recommended Resources”| Book | Use | Level |
|---|---|---|
| ABRSM Grade 4-5 Syllabus Books | Classical pieces, scales, sight-reading | Grade 4-5 |
| Hanon “The Virtuoso Pianist” | Finger exercises for speed and evenness | All levels |
| Jazz Hanon | Jazz-specific finger exercises | Intermediate-Advanced |
| Mark Levine “The Jazz Piano Book” | Comprehensive jazz piano method | Intermediate-Advanced |
| Walter Piston “Harmony” | Deep music theory | Advanced |
| ABRSM Music Theory in Practice (Grades 1-5) | Theory workbooks with exercises | Grades 1-5 |
| App | Use | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| iReal Pro | Jazz backing tracks in any key, any tempo | Paid (one-time) |
| MuseScore | Music notation — write, read, and play back scores | Free |
| GarageBand (Mac/iOS) | Recording, production, MIDI from CT-X9000IN | Free |
| Tenuto (musictheory.net) | Theory drills — intervals, chords, key signatures | Paid (one-time) |
| Piano Marvel | Sight-reading practice with graded pieces | Subscription |
YouTube Channels
Section titled “YouTube Channels”| Channel | Focus | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pianist Magazine | Classical technique and repertoire | Professional demonstrations with clear explanations |
| Aimee Nolte Music | Jazz piano | Accessible jazz theory and voicings |
| Piano Pig | Pop arrangements | Practical chord-based song playing |
| Bollywood Piano Tutorials | Indian songs | Note-by-note Bollywood keyboard arrangements |
| Adam Neely | Music theory and analysis | Deep, engaging music theory for curious musicians |
| Nahre Sol | Classical piano and creativity | Combining classical training with creative exploration |
Online Courses
Section titled “Online Courses”| Platform | Course | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pianote | Comprehensive piano courses | Pop, rock, blues, classical foundations |
| Open Studio Jazz | Jazz piano courses | Jazz harmony, improvisation, standards |
| Coursera “Fundamentals of Music Theory” (University of Edinburgh) | Academic music theory | Formal theory from a university perspective |
| Coursera “Jazz Improvisation” (Berklee) | Jazz improvisation | Structured improvisation method from Berklee faculty |
| Udemy “Complete Piano Course” (various instructors) | General piano | Browse for specific topics (sight-reading, chord voicings) |
How to Find an Advanced Teacher
Section titled “How to Find an Advanced Teacher”At the intermediate-advanced transition, a teacher can accelerate your progress dramatically — especially for technique corrections that are hard to self-diagnose.
What to Look For
Section titled “What to Look For”- Specialisation match: If you want to focus on jazz, find a jazz pianist. Classical? Find someone with conservatory training. Indian? Find a Hindustani musician. A generalist is fine for Grade 4, but specialisation helps beyond that.
- Teaching experience: Ask about their experience with adult intermediate students. Teaching a 10-year-old beginner is a different skill from teaching an adult at Grade 3-5.
- Performance experience: A teacher who performs regularly understands performance anxiety, stage presence, and the practical reality of making music.
- Willingness to adapt: You have a CT-X9000IN, not a Steinway grand. A good teacher will work with your instrument and situation.
Questions to Ask a Potential Teacher
Section titled “Questions to Ask a Potential Teacher”- “What is your experience teaching adult intermediate students?”
- “What method books or repertoire would you use for someone at ABRSM Grade 3?”
- “How do you structure lessons — technique, repertoire, theory, or a mix?”
- “Do you teach the genre I am most interested in?”
- “Do you offer online lessons?” (Online lessons work well for piano — a good camera angle showing the keyboard is sufficient.)
In-Person vs Online
Section titled “In-Person vs Online”| Factor | In-Person | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Technique correction | Superior — teacher can see and hear from multiple angles | Good with a well-positioned camera |
| Sound quality | Natural acoustic | Depends on microphone and internet quality |
| Convenience | Travel required | Play from home on your own keyboard |
| Cost | Often higher | Often 20-30% less |
| Geographic reach | Limited to local teachers | Access to teachers worldwide |
For Grade 4-5 study, either format works. For advanced classical technique (Grade 6+), in-person is generally preferred.
Timeline Expectations
Section titled “Timeline Expectations”| Goal | Estimated Timeline | Practice Required |
|---|---|---|
| ABRSM Grade 4 | 9-12 months from Grade 3 | 45-60 min daily |
| ABRSM Grade 5 | 18-24 months from Grade 3 | 45-60 min daily |
| Fluent jazz improvisation | 2-3 years of focused jazz study | 45-60 min daily + regular playing with others |
| Professional-level pop/contemporary | 1-2 years of focused practice + production skills | 45-60 min daily + recording/production time |
| Indian classical performance level | 3-5 years with a teacher | 60 min daily + listening and concert attendance |
| ABRSM Grade 8 / Diploma | 4-7 years from Grade 3 | 60-90 min daily with a teacher |
These are realistic estimates for an adult learner with consistent daily practice. Some students progress faster; some take longer. The key variable is not talent — it is consistent, deliberate practice over time.
Your CT-X9000IN: Continuing the Partnership
Section titled “Your CT-X9000IN: Continuing the Partnership”Your Casio CT-X9000IN has been your musical partner for the beginner and intermediate courses. Here is honest guidance on how to continue using it:
Where the CT-X9000IN Excels
Section titled “Where the CT-X9000IN Excels”- Pop/contemporary: Layer, split, 800 tones, rhythm accompaniment — everything you need
- Jazz: Electric Piano and Jazz Organ tones are genuinely good; 61 keys is sufficient for most jazz
- Indian music: 43 Indian tones and 39 Indian rhythms make it one of the best affordable options
- Production: USB MIDI output connects to any DAW (GarageBand, Logic, Ableton)
- Practice: Built-in metronome, recording, registration memory — all essential tools
Where the CT-X9000IN Has Limitations
Section titled “Where the CT-X9000IN Has Limitations”- Classical beyond Grade 5: 61 unweighted keys become limiting. Advanced classical pieces use the full 88-key range and require weighted touch for proper dynamic control.
- Advanced touch nuance: Unweighted keys do not develop the same finger strength and control as weighted (or even semi-weighted) keys. For serious classical technique, this matters.
When to Consider Upgrading
Section titled “When to Consider Upgrading”- If you choose the Classical Track and aim for Grade 5+: A weighted 88-key digital piano is a worthwhile investment. Budget options: Casio PX-S1100 (
$450), Yamaha P-145 ($500), Roland FP-30X (~$700). These provide weighted hammer action, 88 keys, and excellent piano tone. - If you choose Jazz, Pop, or Indian Track: The CT-X9000IN remains an excellent instrument. Its features (tones, rhythms, layer/split, MIDI) are more important for these genres than weighted keys.
- If you continue across all tracks: Consider adding a weighted keyboard for classical practice while keeping the CT-X9000IN for everything else. Many professional keyboard players own multiple instruments.
Your Next 12 Months: A Suggested Plan
Section titled “Your Next 12 Months: A Suggested Plan”| Month | Focus | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Choose your primary track. Find resources. Optionally find a teacher. | Decision made, resources gathered |
| 3-4 | Begin Grade 4 repertoire (1-2 pieces). Expand scales to 4 octaves. Continue improvisation. | First Grade 4 piece learned |
| 5-6 | Add a second repertoire piece. Deepen theory (modulation, extended chords). | 2 Grade 4 pieces in progress |
| 7-8 | Polish 3 pieces to performance standard. Sight-reading daily. | Mini-recital of 3 pieces |
| 9-10 | Begin Grade 4 sight-reading and ear training at exam level. | Comfortable with Grade 4 material |
| 11-12 | Optional: register for ABRSM Grade 4 exam. Continue self-study. | Grade 4 exam ready OR strong self-assessed Grade 4 level |
Final Words
Section titled “Final Words”When you started the beginner course, you had never played a piano. When you started the intermediate course, you could play simple songs with both hands. Now you can play across four genres, improvise, read lead sheets, sight-read, and perform from memory. That transformation is real, and it is yours.
Music is not a destination. It is a practice. The joy is not in “arriving” at Grade 5 or Grade 8 — it is in the daily act of sitting at the keyboard, discovering something new, and making sounds that move you. Whether you pursue ABRSM examinations, play jazz in your living room, arrange Bollywood songs on your CT-X9000IN, or compose your own music, you are a musician now.
Keep playing. Keep listening. Keep learning.
The keyboard is waiting.