One of my piano students is currently prepping for her Grade 5 RCM exam. Every week she drags in a pile of books… everything from repertoire, studies and sight reading to technical exercises, supplementary repertoire and more… what a heap!
She has a binder, but because she’s using so many required books, it wasn’t really doing it’s job. She has a technical exercise book… but because it’s one of many books, I had a sneaking suspicion it was getting lost in the shuffle and ignored during home practice… as were her scales, triads and arpeggios.
Managing a mountain of materials just wasn’t working for her. And because the lead-up to an exam is no time for technical work to get lost in any kind of shuffle, we came up with a solution together.
Today I thought we’d share it with all of you as a printable!
Terrific Technique Cards
Late one night after her lesson (why is everything I do seem to be “late one night”?!) I did up a quick sheet of of all her required scales, triads and arpeggios.
I threw the information I had gathered into a card template, printed it, and cut out the technique cards. A quick trip to Staples the next morning for a “business card page protector” (Hello Friendly Staples Employee… Yes, that’s right, I’m here again!) and I had a system that was not only organized, but pretty cool.
To save you a late night, we’re sharing the printables for your own set of Terrific Technique Cards (included is every commonly-played major and minor key so you have all your bases covered!) We can’t save you yet another trip to Staples for the holder, but you can order them online!
How To Use Your Terrific Technique Cards
My system is simple. The business card holder I picked up form Staples is a clear plastic sheet with card-sized dividers. This gets clipped into your piano students’ 3-ring binders.
Each time they learn (or are assigned) a new scale, triad, arpeggio etc. you select the appropriate card, highlight the tasks you’d like them to complete for that particular key, and slide the card into a space in the sleeve.
You can build a large collection card by card or you can rotate cards, having your students play only the ones you’ve selected for them each particular week. Here’s what it ends up looking like.
Why does it work?
- It’s a very clear and uncluttered way for your piano students to immediately see what they should be practicing
- You have complete control over what keys your piano students focus on each week – no more muddling through a book full of scales
- You can use several sleeves to separate various keys into “things I’m learning”, “things to review”, “things required for my exam” etc.
- It becomes a bit of a “Collect a New Card” game!
I’ve included the tasks on each card that are most commonly learned for each key, but if it doesn’t quite fit your needs, most word processing programs contain a business card template so you can make a set of your own.
My student went home genuinely inspired to collect a full page full of cards (Yippee!). We hope this printable provides some organization and inspiration (and any other words ending in “tion”… ‘cuz they’re usually good!) to your own students too!
Want more piano studio organization tips? Read on…
Starting Off Fresh Begins With The Piano Binder
The Top 3 Piano Studio Clutter Monsters And How To Tame Them
sherry says
What a fun idea for learning scales! Thank you so much!
Andrea says
You’re welcome Sherry! Anything you can do to make technical work fun, right?! 🙂
Paula says
What a wonderfully, creative idea. I can’t wait to use it with my students. Thank you!
Andrea says
Hi Paula – you’re very welcome! Thanks for reading 🙂
Colleen says
What is a formula pattern?
Andrea says
Hi Colleen – we answered below if you want to check back to see. I’m guessing it must be a Canadian term! Here’s a youtube video to explain as it’s easiest to see it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js_Fd43aMX8
Amber says
I wondered too! Thanks for the answer! I used to do this with my teacher but each segment was two octaves (covering 4 all up). I use this with my advanced pupils and love the idea of doing this simpler version with younger ones. Thanks!!!
L. Warren says
I second that ^ question.
What is formula pattern?
I’m a bit of a scale-o-saurus….and really drill technique and my students ALL play all 12 major and minor keys so this card idea inspires me.
But the term “formula pattern” isn’t familiar so I want to know what I’m missing there so I can add that to my list for all the keys!
Maybe it’s different terminology or something I’m not currently doing.
Please share!!! 🙂
Andrea says
Must be a Canadian term!? It’s a scale that includes a contrary motion component. (Hands together ascending, contrary motion out and in, asending, descending, contrary motion out and in, descending). We can post a version without it on the cards. Check back later today
Tamara Munk says
Thanks for explaining this — I’ve heard this pattern called “Russian pattern” as well. Two octaves parallel motion ascending; contrary motion two octaves outbound and return; etc.
L. Warren says
Thanks for the explanation. Yes, I too have heard that called the “Russian pattern.”
Melinda says
I’ve heard this referred to as the “Grand Master Scale” because it takes you up and down, parallel and contrary all over the keyboard! I am also going to adapt these for my flute students. Their “formulation pattern” will be playing the scales in 3rds for younger students and then adding 6ths (I dreaded those scales in 6ths on flute!) for the older students.
Sonja says
Wow!! Such a fantastic idea! Thank you for sharing . I was also wondering what a formula pattern is? Fingering? Thanks again!
Andrea says
Here’s a youtube link to what a formula pattern is 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js_Fd43aMX8
Paula C says
This is a great resource! I just printed out 3 copies to use with students today who are all preparing for RCM and will use it with those who are not as well. It is very clear and I have to give a “plug” as a Canadian for the formula patterns – they are fun and very very good technique! It’s especially fun to try them in minor keys 🙂 When my daughter was taking her level 4 RCM exam, I hand wrote out a sheet with all of the triads and their fingerings because this was a more difficult area for her than the scales. I’d love to see a printable for each item of technique if you ever get the time – thanks Andrea and Trevor for giving teachers the very best in piano teaching tools, music, and games.
Andrea says
Hi Paula – I also love formula patterns! There’s no better way to really solidify the fingering to a scale as you simply can’t “cheat” the fingering in them! 🙂 Had no idea it was a Canadian term… eh?! 😉 Glad you’ll get good use from the cards.
Lisa says
To the best of my knowledge, in the States, the “Formula Pattern” is better known as playing scales in “The Grand Form.”
Your cards are a terrific organizational idea: thank you!
Milla says
If you extend it to two octaves that would be Russian Grand Scale Formula.
Andrea says
Learn something new every day! We always do them 2 octaves here – so now I can make them sound even fancier when I introduce them 😉 Thanks Milla!
Christine says
Would you have a set that follow the Conservatory Canada requirements? Or an editable template that we could customize? Love your approach to teaching!
Andrea says
Hi Christine – this set is multi-use in that it contains every commonly played major and minor key. You simply highlight on each card what you would like your student to do for each key (so whatever is not applicable, don’t highlight it… although there is never any harm in learning extra!) 🙂 If it doesn’t work for you, you can create your own using any business-card template in any word processing program.
Kjerstin says
This is brilliant! I just printed off six copies for my upper-level students, and an extra to store in my Pedagogy Resource Binder. What a clever time-saving idea! Thank you!
Andrea says
Wonderful! So happy you can use it Kjerstin!
María Laura says
Hi! Great ideas! Thank you so much! And after clarifying what the “formula pattern” is, which is great to know that is also de Russian formula, since I teach scales this way, my students will feel more important to be doing something they do in Russia 🙂 what I’m not familiar is with the term RCM exam…? Would you explain for me, please? Thank you very much! 🙂
Andrea says
Hi Maria – RCM is the Royal Conservatory of Music http://www.rcmexaminations.org
María Laura says
Thanks for the info! 🙂
Connie says
Can’t thank you enough for all of your suggestions and help! It has been such a help in returning to teaching piano full time.
Amy Hall says
Thank you for this great idea! I had no idea Formula Pattern was a Canadian term either! I love teaching them.
I have also used the following chart tool for my students following RCM exams.
http://colorinmypiano.com/wp-content/files/RCM_2015_Technical_Requirements_Charts_Prep-10.pdf
They put stickers in the boxes as they master each skill. It is a great one-page visual for them.