RCM: Grade 3 Piano Technique Requirements

Today’s video covers the RCM’s grade 3 piano technique requirements (updated for the 2015 syllabus). This includes scales and triads, solid and broken. I’ll be playing with the metronome in this video at the MINIMUM required speeds (feel free to go a little faster), and will label each technique on the screen as I play them.

Coming soon will be an ABRSM equivalent of this video – stay tuned for that.

For more information on these technical exercises, check out the RCM syllabus.

This is the first year that scales are expected to be played hands together, which is a significant challenge at first. The tonic triads also now extend two octaves (instead of 1 octave as in previous years).

Grade 3 piano technique: Major Scales

D major scale, hands together, 2 octaves, tempo 80 BPM, played in 8th notes
F major scale, hands together, 2 octaves, tempo 80 BPM, played in 8th notes
Bb major scale, hands together, 2 octaves, tempo 80 BPM, played in 8th notes

Harmonic Minor Scales

B harmonic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 80 BPM, played in 8th notes
D harmonic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 80 BPM, played in 8th notes
G harmonic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 80 BPM, played in 8th notes

Melodic Minor Scales

B melodic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 80 BPM, played in 8th notes
D melodic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 80 BPM, played in 8th notes
G melodic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 80 BPM, played in 8th notes

Other Scales

D major formula pattern, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 80 BPM, played in 8th notes
Chromatic scale starting on D, HT, 1 octave, tempo 80 BPM, played in 8th notes

Tonic Triads, major

Broken

D tonic triad broken, hands separate 2 octaves, 69 BPM, played in 8th note triplets
F tonic triad broken, hands separate 2 octaves, 69 BPM, played in 8th note triplets
Bb Tonic triad broken, hands separate 2 octaves, 69 BPM, played in 8th note triplets

Solid

D tonic triad solid, hands separate 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest
F tonic triad solid, hands separate 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest
Bb tonic triad solid, hands separate 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest

Tonic Triads, minor

Broken

B minor tonic triad broken, hands separate 2 octaves, 69 BPM, played in 8th note triplets
D minor tonic triad broken, hands separate 2 octaves, 69 BPM, played in 8th note triplets
G minor tonic triad broken, hands separate 2 octaves, 69 BPM, played in 8th note triplets

Solid

B minor tonic triad solid, hands separate 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest
D minor tonic triad solid, hands separate 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest
G minor tonic triad solid, hands separate 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest

Conclusion

And that’s all there is to it! Once you’ve learned these various technical requirements for grade 3, I recommend playing along with the video to make sure your tempo and notes are correct. Sometimes when I work on my technique I use the metronome, and sometimes I don’t – there’s no need to rely on it too heavily.

Enjoy! 🙂

xo,
Allysia

Grade 3 RCM books