Grade 4 RCM Technique Requirements
Today’s video covers the RCM’s grade 4 piano technique requirements (updated for the 2015 syllabus). This includes scales, triads and arpeggios. 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.
Scales are hands together again this year, in more challenging keys than in grade 3. The tonic triads (solid and broken) are also hands together. This is the first year of playing arpeggios in the RCM technique as well.
For more information on any of these various techniques, be sure to visit the specific videos (harmonic minor, melodic minor, formula patterns, and so on). You also might want to check out previous grades of technique if you’re not quite at a grade 4 level yet.
Grade 4 piano technique: Major Scales
D major scale, hands together, 2 octaves, tempo 92 BPM, played in 8th notes
A major scale, hands together, 2 octaves, tempo 92 BPM, played in 8th notes
Bb major scale, hands together, 2 octaves, tempo 92 BPM, played in 8th notes
Eb major scale, hands together, 2 octaves, tempo 92 BPM, played in 8th notes
Harmonic Minor Scales
B harmonic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 92 BPM, played in 8th notes
C harmonic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 92 BPM, played in 8th notes
G harmonic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 92 BPM, played in 8th notes
Melodic Minor Scales
B melodic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 92 BPM, played in 8th notes
C melodic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 92 BPM, played in 8th notes
G melodic minor scale, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 92 BPM, played in 8th notes
Other Scales
C harmonic minor formula pattern, HT, 2 octaves, tempo 92 BPM, played in 8th notes
Chromatic scale starting on C, HS, 1 octave, tempo 104 BPM, played in 8th notes
Tonic Triads, major
D tonic triad broken, hands together 2 octaves, 60 BPM, played in 8th note triplets
A tonic triad broken, hands together 2 octaves, 60 BPM, played in 8th note triplets
Bb Tonic triad broken, hands together 2 octaves, 60 BPM, played in 8th note triplets
Eb Tonic triad broken, hands together 2 octaves, 60 BPM, played in 8th note triplets
D tonic triad solid, hands together 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest
A tonic triad solid, hands together 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest
Bb tonic triad solid, hands together 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest
Eb tonic triad solid, hands together 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest
Tonic Triads, minor
B minor tonic triad broken, hands together 2 octaves, 60 BPM, played in 8th note triplets
C minor tonic triad broken, hands together 2 octaves, 60 BPM, played in 8th note triplets
G minor tonic triad broken, hands together 2 octaves, 60 BPM, played in 8th note triplets
B minor tonic triad solid, hands together 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest
C minor tonic triad solid, hands together 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest
G minor tonic triad solid, hands together 2 octaves, 120 BPM, played in quarter note + quarter rest
Arpeggios, major
D major arpeggio, hands separate, 72 BPM, played in eighth notes
A major arpeggio, hands separate, 72 BPM, played in eighth notes
Bb major arpeggio, hands separate, 72 BPM, played in eighth notes
Eb major arpeggio, hands separate, 72 BPM, played in eighth notes
Arpeggios, minor
B minor arpeggio, hands separate, 72 BPM, played in eighth notes
C minor arpeggio, hands separate, 72 BPM, played in eighth notes
G minor arpeggio, hands separate, 72 BPM, played in eighth notes
Conclusion
And that’s all there is to it! Once you’ve learned these various technical requirements for grade 4, 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
RCM Grade 4 music books
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Celebration Series: Piano Repertoire 4 2015 Edition. Composed by The Royal Conservatory Music Development Program. This edition: 2015 edition. Celebration Series. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th century and 21st century. Method book & online audio. 40 pages. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.C5R04). |
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Celebration Series: Piano Etudes 4 2015 Edition. Composed by The Royal Conservatory Music Development Program. This edition: 2015 edition. Celebration Series. Method book & online audio. 20 pages. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.C5S04). |
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Technical Requirements for Piano Level 4 2015 Edition. Composed by The Royal Conservatory Music Development Program. This edition: 2015 edition. Technique. Technical Requirements for Piano. Book. 19 pages. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.TRP04). |
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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 4 Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Ear Training. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book and online audio. 48 pages. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S04). |