"His splendid articulation and crisp trills were a pleasure to hear. The A-flat etude was played with breathtaking gusto."
 


Technique Level Guide

PIANO STUDY
Technique requirements based on the Russian Technical regime

*These are the basic requirements for each performance level.  Students may play more difficult segments at the discretion of the instructor.
*Students should also use Hanon, Czerny, and other etudes by other composers in their daily practice.
*Scales accented in 4; *Chromatic Scales accented in 6.
*Four-note chords and arpeggios accented in 4.

LEVEL I
KEYS Chosen from:  C, D, E, F, G, A, B  Major and minor
Single-Note Scales:  Two octaves, hands together, parallel motion
Chromatic Scale:  2 octaves, hands together, parallel motion.
Broken Chords:  Three-note chords in all positions, one octave
Block chords: Three-note chords in all positions, one octave

LEVEL II
KEYS Chosen from:  C, D, E, F, G, A, B  Major and minor;
Db & Gb Major, Bb & Eb minor.
Single-Note Scales:  Four octaves, parallel motion
Chromatic Scale:  4 octaves, parallel motion.
Broken Chords:  Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves
Block chords: Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves
Russian Broken Chords:  Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves
Arpeggios:  Two or Three octaves, parallel motion; white keys only.

LEVEL III
ALL MAJOR OR MINOR KEYS unless otherwise specified.
Single-Note Scales:  Russian pattern on white-key M/m; four octaves, paralle motion on black-key majors and minors.
Chromatic Scale:  Russian pattern in unison.
Broken Chords:  Four-note chords in all positions, four octaves
Block chords: Four-note chords in all positions, four octaves
Russian Broken Chords:  Four-note chords in all positions, four octaves
Arpeggios:  Four octaves, parallel motion.
Double Octave Scales:  Two octaves, parallel motion, white-keys only.

LEVEL IV
ALL MAJOR OR MINOR KEYS unless otherwise specified.
Single-Note Scales:  Russian pattern.
Chromatic Scale:  Russian pattern in unison.
Broken Chords:  Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves, use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern on white key positions only.  Four octaves on black keys.
Block chords: Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves, use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern on white key positions only.  Four octaves on black keys.
PIANO STUDY
Technique requirements based on the Russian Technical regime

LEVEL IV (continued)
Russian Broken Chords: Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves, use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern on white key positions only.  Four octaves on black keys.
Arpeggios:  Russian Pattern.
Double Octave Scales:  Two octaves, parallel motion.
Broken Octave Scales:  Two octaves; white keys only.

LEVEL V
ALL MAJOR OR MINOR KEYS unless otherwise specified.
Single-Note Scales:  Russian pattern with transitions through Ab/f.
Chromatic Scale:  Russian pattern in unison. Add 3rds, 6ths, 10ths in parallel motion.
Broken Chords:  Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves, use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern.
Block chords: Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves, use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern.
Russian Broken Chords: Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves, use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern.
Arpeggios:  Use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic Pattern in parallel motion on white keys.  Russian pattern starting on black keys
Double Octave Scales:  Two octaves, parallel motion, with transitions through Ab/f. Broken Octave Scales: Two octaves, parallel motion, with transitions through Ab/f.
Double Thirds:  2 octaves, parallel motion.  C, G, D, A, E Major and minor.

LEVEL VI
ALL MAJOR OR MINOR KEYS unless otherwise specified.
Single-Note Scales:  Russian pattern with transitions. 
Chromatic Scale:  Russian pattern in unison, 3rds, 6ths, and 10ths.
Broken Chords:  Four-note chords in all positions, four octaves, use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern.
Block chords: Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves, use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern.
Russian Broken Chords: Four-note chords in all positions, four octaves, use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern.
Arpeggios:  Use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic Pattern in parallel motion on white keys.  Russian pattern starting on black keys
Double Octave Scales:  Two octaves, parallel motion with transitions.
Broken Octave Scales: Two octaves, parallel motion, with transitions.
Double Thirds:  2 octaves, parallel motion.  White key majors and minors.
SELECTED ETUDES by Moszkowski, Op. 72 (F Major, g minor, C Major).

 

PIANO STUDY
Technique requirements based on the Russian Technical regime

LEVEL VII
ALL MAJOR OR MINOR KEYS unless otherwise specified.
Single-Note Scales:  Russian pattern with transitions.  3 pairs
Chromatic Scale:  Russian pattern in unison, 3rds, 6ths, and 10ths.
Broken Chords:  Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves, use all eleven chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern on white keys; six chords on black keys.
Block chords: Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves, use all eleven chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern on white keys; six chords on black keys.
Russian Broken Chords: Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves, use all eleven chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern on white keys; six chords on black keys.
Arpeggios:  Use first six chords of the Russian Harmonic Pattern in parallel motion on white keys.  Russian pattern starting on black keys
Double Octave Scales:  Two octaves, parallel motion with transitions.
Broken Octave Scales: Two octaves, parallel motion, with transitions.
Double Thirds:  4 octaves, parallel motion. 
Double Sixths:  Two octaves with transitions, through Ab/f

*ETUDE:  Brilliant Etude selected from the following:
Czerny Op. 740, Clementi Gradus ad... , Moszkowski Op. 72 , Chopin Op. 10 or 25
Schumann Op. 3 or 10 , Liszt Paganini, et. al. , Scriabin Op. 8, 42, or 65 ,
Rachmaninoff Op. 23, 32, 33, or 39 ,Debussy Etudes (except No. 10)

 

LEVEL VIII
ALL MAJOR OR MINOR KEYS unless otherwise specified.
Single-Note Scales:  Russian pattern with transitions.  6 pairs
Chromatic Scale:  Russian pattern in unison, 3rds, 6ths, and 10ths.
Broken Chords:  Four-note chords in all positions, four octaves, use all eleven chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern.
Block chords: Four-note chords in all positions, two octaves, use all eleven chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern.
Russian Broken Chords: Four-note chords in all positions, four octaves, use all eleven chords of the Russian Harmonic pattern.
Arpeggios:  Use all eleven chords of the Russian Harmonic Pattern in Russian pattern on white keys, parallel motion on black keys.
Double Octave Scales:  Two octaves, parallel motion with transitions, 6 pairs.
Broken Octave Scales: Two octaves, parallel motion, with transitions, 6 pairs.
Double Thirds:  4 octaves, parallel motion with transitions and/or in Russian Pattern.
Double Sixths:  Two octaves with transitions.

*ETUDE:  Brilliant Etude selected from the following:
Czerny Op. 740, Clementi Gradus ad... , Moszkowski Op. 72 , Chopin Op. 10 or 25
Schumann Op. 3 or 10 , Liszt Paganini, et. al. , Scriabin Op. 8, 42, or 65 ,
Rachmaninoff Op. 23, 32, 33, or 39 ,Debussy Etudes (except No. 10)