Session 1: Welcome Back & Assessment
Overview
Section titled “Overview”- Phase: 1 — Foundation Expansion
- Duration: 75 minutes
- Prerequisites: Completed the Piano School 20-Hour Beginner Course (all 20 sessions). ABRSM Grade 1 skills: 6 scales, 6 triads, both-clef reading, 3+ polished songs with both hands, basic ear training, sustain pedal basics.
Learning Objectives
Section titled “Learning Objectives”By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Replay two beginner recital pieces and identify specific improvements since graduation
- Complete a diagnostic skills assessment covering scales, chords, reading, and ear training
- Navigate the 75-minute 6-segment session format confidently
- Perform the new intermediate daily warm-up routine from memory
- Set three personal goals for the intermediate course
Materials Needed
Section titled “Materials Needed”- Casio CT-X9000IN keyboard (powered on, Grand Piano tone — Tone 000)
- Sustain pedal connected
- A notebook or paper for writing your self-assessment notes and goals
- This lesson plan open beside you
Warm-Up & Review (10 minutes)
Section titled “Warm-Up & Review (10 minutes)”Welcome back, Gaurav. You finished the beginner course. Before we move forward, let us see exactly where you stand. This warm-up is also your first diagnostic — pay attention to how each exercise feels.
Scale Check: C Major (2 minutes)
Section titled “Scale Check: C Major (2 minutes)”Play your C major scale, one octave, hands together, at a comfortable tempo.
Play ascending and descending, 3 times. Notice:
- Is your thumb-under smooth or jerky?
- Are both hands perfectly synchronised?
- Can you play at 60 BPM with the metronome?
Rate yourself: Confident / Mostly OK / Needs Work
Scale Check: G Major (2 minutes)
Section titled “Scale Check: G Major (2 minutes)”G major, one octave, hands together.
Play ascending and descending, 3 times at 60 BPM. Remember the F# — one sharp in the key signature.
Rate yourself: Confident / Mostly OK / Needs Work
Chord Check (3 minutes)
Section titled “Chord Check (3 minutes)”Play each chord as a block chord (all notes together), hold for 4 beats, then move to the next:
- C major: C(1) E(3) G(5) — RH
- G major: G(1) B(3) D(5) — RH
- F major: F(1) A(3) C(5) — RH
- Am: A(1) C(3) E(5) — RH
- Dm: D(1) F(3) A(5) — RH
- Em: E(1) G(3) B(5) — RH
Now play C major in 1st inversion: E(1) G(2) C(5) — RH. Play Am in 1st inversion: C(1) E(2) A(5) — RH.
Rate yourself: Confident / Mostly OK / Needs Work
Quick Sight-Reading Check (3 minutes)
Section titled “Quick Sight-Reading Check (3 minutes)”Without looking ahead, read this simple melody — RH only, C position:
How did that feel? Could you play it at first sight, or did you need to stop and figure out notes? Rate yourself: Read it easily / Figured it out / Struggled
Theory / Harmony (10 minutes)
Section titled “Theory / Harmony (10 minutes)”What Changes at the Intermediate Level
Section titled “What Changes at the Intermediate Level”In the beginner course, you learned the building blocks — individual notes, basic chords, simple songs. Now we connect those blocks into real musical architecture.
Here is what you already know and where it goes next:
| You Know This (Beginner) | It Becomes This (Intermediate) |
|---|---|
| C, G major scales (1 octave) | 9+ major scales, 2 octaves, hands together |
| A, D, E natural minor (basic) | Harmonic minor with raised 7th, melodic minor |
| 6 triads (C, F, G, Am, Dm, Em) | All 24 triads + diminished + augmented + 7th chords |
| C and Am inversions | All 24 triads in all 3 positions (root, 1st, 2nd inversion) |
| Basic sight-reading (single hand) | Grade 2-3 sight-reading (both hands, key signatures) |
| I-IV-V-I and I-V-vi-IV in C, G | ii-V-I, circle of 5ths, secondary dominants |
| p, mf, f dynamics | pp through ff, staccato, legato, accents, rubato |
| Basic pedal | Legato pedaling, syncopated pedaling, half-pedaling |
| No improvisation | Blues scale, pentatonic, chord-tone improvisation |
| No raga knowledge | Raga Yaman, Raga Bhairavi, alankars |
The 75-Minute Session Format
Section titled “The 75-Minute Session Format”Every session from now on follows this structure:
- Warm-Up & Review (10 min) — Scales, arpeggios, and last session’s material
- Theory / Harmony (10 min) — One new concept with keyboard demonstration
- Technique (15 min) — Hands-on drills with exact instructions
- Repertoire / Genre (25 min) — Applying skills to actual pieces
- Creative / Ear Training (10 min) — Improvisation, ear training, playing by ear
- Review & Homework (5 min) — Summary and practice assignments
The Creative segment is new. In the beginner course, every minute was about building foundations. Now that those foundations exist, you will spend 10 minutes each session using them creatively — improvising, playing by ear, developing your musical intuition.
Technique (15 minutes)
Section titled “Technique (15 minutes)”The New Intermediate Daily Warm-Up Routine
Section titled “The New Intermediate Daily Warm-Up Routine”This replaces your beginner warm-up. You will use this at the start of every practice session going forward. Memorise it today.
Part 1: 5-Finger Pattern in C (2 minutes)
Section titled “Part 1: 5-Finger Pattern in C (2 minutes)”RH, starting on Middle C:
Play 3 times. First time p (soft), second time mf (medium), third time f (loud). Feel the difference in your fingers.
LH, starting on C one octave below Middle C:
Play 3 times with the same dynamic progression: p, mf, f.
Part 2: C Major Scale — 1 Octave, Hands Together (3 minutes)
Section titled “Part 2: C Major Scale — 1 Octave, Hands Together (3 minutes)”Play C major ascending and descending, both hands together, at 60 BPM with the metronome.
Focus on the thumb-under moment in each hand. It should be seamless — no bump, no pause.
Play 4 times. On the 4th time, add crescendo going up and diminuendo coming down.
Part 3: Chord Progression — I-IV-V-I in C (3 minutes)
Section titled “Part 3: Chord Progression — I-IV-V-I in C (3 minutes)”Play this progression with both hands. LH plays single bass notes, RH plays triads:
| Chord | LH (Bass) | RH (Triad) |
|---|---|---|
| I (C) | C(5) below Middle C | C(1) E(3) G(5) |
| IV (F) | F(5) below Middle C | F(1) A(3) C(5) |
| V (G) | G(5) below Middle C | G(1) B(3) D(5) |
| I (C) | C(5) below Middle C | C(1) E(3) G(5) |
Hold each chord for 4 beats. Play the progression 3 times. Keep the transition between chords smooth — lift both hands at the same moment, move to the next position, play together.
Part 4: Interval Ear Training (2 minutes)
Section titled “Part 4: Interval Ear Training (2 minutes)”Close your eyes. Play these intervals with your RH and say the interval name out loud:
- C(1) to E(3) — “Major 3rd”
- C(1) to G(5) — “Perfect 5th”
- C(1) to F(4) — “Perfect 4th”
- C(1) to D(2) — “Major 2nd”
Now have someone play one of these (or play one without looking at your hand) and try to identify it by ear.
Part 5: Free Play (2 minutes)
Section titled “Part 5: Free Play (2 minutes)”Play anything you want for 2 minutes. A song from the beginner course, some random notes, a rhythm pattern. The only rule: keep playing. This trains musical fluency — the ability to make sounds without overthinking.
Repertoire / Genre (25 minutes)
Section titled “Repertoire / Genre (25 minutes)”Beginner Recital Replay — Assessment with Fresh Ears
Section titled “Beginner Recital Replay — Assessment with Fresh Ears”You are going to replay two pieces from your beginner course recital. But this time, you are not just playing them — you are evaluating them. You have grown as a musician since you last performed these, even if you have not practised them recently.
Piece 1: “Ode to Joy” — Beethoven (Beginner Arrangement)
Section titled “Piece 1: “Ode to Joy” — Beethoven (Beginner Arrangement)”You learned this in the beginner course. Play it now from memory (or from the beginner session plan if needed).
RH:
LH (simplified accompaniment):
Both Hands Together: Play once through slowly at 80 BPM. Then assess yourself:
- Notes: Did you play all the right notes? Any wrong notes?
- Rhythm: Was your timing steady? Did you rush or drag?
- Hands Together: Were both hands synchronised, or did one lag behind?
- Dynamics: Did you play with any dynamic shape, or was everything the same volume?
- Expression: Did it sound like music, or like a sequence of correct notes?
Write your observations in your notebook.
Piece 2: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” (Beginner Arrangement)
Section titled “Piece 2: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” (Beginner Arrangement)”RH:
Then repeat Measures 1-4 for the final section.
LH (chord accompaniment):
Assessment Questions:
- Can you play this from memory, or did you need to look at the notes?
- Is your LH chord accompaniment smooth, or do you hesitate between chord changes?
- Compare how this sounds now versus when you first learned it. What has improved?
Setting Your Intermediate Goals
Section titled “Setting Your Intermediate Goals”Based on your assessment of these two pieces and the warm-up diagnostic, write three personal goals in your notebook. Here are examples:
- “I want to play scales smoothly at 80 BPM with no stumbles on the thumb-under”
- “I want to learn songs in new keys beyond C and G”
- “I want to learn how to improvise — make up my own music”
Your goals should be personal and honest. There are no wrong answers. You will revisit these goals at Session 13 (the midway point) and again at Session 25 (graduation).
Creative / Ear Training (10 minutes)
Section titled “Creative / Ear Training (10 minutes)”Self-Assessment: Where Is Your Ear Now?
Section titled “Self-Assessment: Where Is Your Ear Now?”This exercise establishes your ear training baseline. You will repeat a similar test at Session 13 to measure progress.
Exercise 1: Interval Recognition (3 minutes)
Section titled “Exercise 1: Interval Recognition (3 minutes)”Play each interval with your RH. Listen carefully. Then close your eyes and play them in random order — can you identify each one?
- C(1) to D(2) — Major 2nd (close, a “step”)
- C(1) to E(3) — Major 3rd (bright, happy)
- C(1) to F(4) — Perfect 4th (open, like the start of “Here Comes the Bride”)
- C(1) to G(5) — Perfect 5th (wide, like the start of “Twinkle Twinkle”)
- C(1) to A(4) — Major 6th (warm, like “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”)
Rate yourself: How many out of 5 can you identify by ear? Write the number down.
Exercise 2: Major vs Minor Chord Identification (3 minutes)
Section titled “Exercise 2: Major vs Minor Chord Identification (3 minutes)”Play these chords one at a time. Say “major” or “minor” based on the sound:
- C major: C(1) E(3) G(5) — RH (bright, happy)
- C minor: C(1) Eb(3) G(5) — RH (dark, sad)
- G major: G(1) B(3) D(5) — RH
- G minor: G(1) Bb(3) D(5) — RH
Now mix them up: play one without looking at your hand — or have someone else play. Can you hear which is major and which is minor?
Rate yourself: Easy / Usually Right / Guessing
Exercise 3: Melody Playback (4 minutes)
Section titled “Exercise 3: Melody Playback (4 minutes)”This is the most advanced ear training exercise from the beginner course. I will give you a 4-note melody. Read it, play it, listen to it, then try to play it back from memory.
How many could you play back without looking at the page? Write it down.
Your Ear Training Baseline:
- Intervals: ___/5
- Major/Minor chords: Easy / Usually Right / Guessing
- Melody playback: ___/3
Keep these numbers. You will be impressed by your improvement at Session 13.
Review & Homework (5 minutes)
Section titled “Review & Homework (5 minutes)”Summary
Section titled “Summary”Today you:
- Completed a skills assessment covering scales, chords, reading, and ear training
- Learned the 75-minute 6-segment intermediate session format
- Replayed two beginner recital pieces and assessed them with fresh ears
- Established your ear training baseline
- Learned the new intermediate daily warm-up routine
- Set three personal goals for the intermediate course
Self-Check Questions
Section titled “Self-Check Questions”- What are the six segments of every intermediate session, and how long is each?
- Which scales did you feel most confident playing today — C major or G major? Why?
- What three personal goals did you set for the intermediate course?
- Can you describe the difference between a major 3rd and a perfect 5th by ear?
Practice Homework (Before Next Session)
Section titled “Practice Homework (Before Next Session)”- Intermediate warm-up routine — 15 minutes daily. Follow the 5-part routine from the Technique section above until it is memorised.
- C and G major scales — 10 minutes daily. Both hands together, with metronome at 60 BPM. Focus on smooth thumb-under. Try to increase to 70 BPM by the end of the week.
- 6 triads review — 5 minutes daily. Play C, F, G, Am, Dm, Em as block chords. Add C and Am 1st inversions. Aim for smooth transitions.
- Beginner piece review — 10 minutes daily. Play through “Ode to Joy” and “Twinkle Twinkle” (or your preferred beginner pieces) with attention to dynamics — play the melody louder than the accompaniment.
- Ear training — 5 minutes daily. Play the 5 intervals from the Creative section. Close your eyes, play one, and name it.
- Total: ~45 minutes daily
Common Mistakes to Watch For
Section titled “Common Mistakes to Watch For”- Rushing through the warm-up: The warm-up is not a formality — it is where your fingers and ears wake up. Play slowly and listen.
- Ignoring dynamics in review pieces: You already know the notes. Now the challenge is making them sound musical. Play with shape — louder here, softer there.
- Skipping ear training: This is the skill that will most dramatically improve over the intermediate course. Five minutes daily makes a massive difference over 25 weeks.
CT-X9000IN Tips
Section titled “CT-X9000IN Tips”Registration Memory — Save Your Favourite Setup
Section titled “Registration Memory — Save Your Favourite Setup”Your CT-X9000IN has Registration Memory — a feature that saves your entire keyboard setup (tone, rhythm, tempo, and more) and recalls it with a single button press.
How to save a registration:
- Set up the keyboard the way you want it (Grand Piano tone, metronome at 60 BPM)
- Press and hold the STORE button
- While holding STORE, press one of the Registration Memory buttons (1-8)
- The display will confirm the save
How to recall a registration:
- Press the BANK button to select your bank (if you have saved to multiple banks)
- Press the corresponding Registration Memory button (1-8)
- Your entire setup is instantly restored
For this session: Save your practice setup to Registration 1:
- Tone: Grand Piano (000)
- Metronome: ON, 60 BPM, 4/4 time
This way, every time you sit down to practise, you can recall your setup with one button press instead of configuring everything from scratch. As the course progresses, you will save different setups for different genres — Registration 1 for classical practice, Registration 2 for jazz, Registration 3 for Bollywood, and so on.