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