10 and 20 piece challenge, Theory, and Scale-a-thon will go from September 1, 2025 through April 17, 2026.
The deadline ends in April this year to allow enough time to order awards for the May recital.

The program is designed to emphasize three areas of well-rounded musicianship:
10 and 20-Piece Challenge, Theory, and Scale-a-thon (Keyboard Skills). It is a student’s personal progress throughout the year.  

10 and 20 PIECE CHALLENGE - 2025-2026

Out of the 20 pieces, at least 15 pieces should be in any one of these categories: Concerto, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th century, Seasonal, or Short Pieces. The other 8 pieces can be songs, contemporary, movie themes, hymns, etc. These must be in original composition for piano. All 20 pieces must be at least 24 measures long, piano solos or duets. Your 20 pieces must be pre-approved by the teacher.

Students are encouraged to learn and pass off their pieces each week/month throughout the school year. You can earn no more than 2 pieces at each weekly lesson. The deadline for 10 and 20 piece challenge is April 18, 2025. Have fun learning the music!♫

This program:

• Motivates students to learn a lot of music

• Helps students advance more quickly

• Improves their sight reading

• Exposes them to more styles of music and more composers

• Gives them a weekly sense of accomplishment

• Encourages polishing more pieces than usual

• Excites students about music instead of just a treat

Being able to play a large volume of music in different styles in a beautiful way is the best reward.

First ten pieces are on the “blue” level. The next ten pieces are on the “orange” level if the students would like to “level up”.

In order for any of the pieces to be checked “DONE”, the music must be learned correctly in Fingering, Expressions, Rhythms, and Notes, as well as be able to play the music in the correct tempo with articulations, phrasing and interpretations.

THEORY - 2025-2026

With consistent theory work, note reading will improve, and ear training & sight-reading will enhance overall musicianship when it comes to learning a new piece.   Understanding what is in the music score will enrich the learning and memory process.  

Throughout the year, students must complete pages of homework from their theory book as assigned weekly by the teacher.  Two pages are assigned each week.  Student must have the two pages finished before they arrive at the studio for lessons (or at their virtual lessons).  Parents, please double check that the theory assignment each week will be done 2 or 3 days after the lesson day. I will correct the pages with the student at the beginning of their lessons each week. The number of pages completed will be totaled by April.  Remember to do your homework the day after the lesson; don’t wait or else you will forget. I highly encourage students to do two pages a week and stay consistently throughout the year rather than do many pages in April.

SCALE-A-THON (KEYBOARD SKILLS) 2025-2026

Having good technique is essential to a great performance. Students are encouraged to practice their scales, chords, cadences and arpeggios daily. Scales are great as a warm up exercise for your fingers and for your mind.  Once you’ve played through each of the Major and minor keys, you can then have the confidence of recognizing any scale patterns, chords, cadences and arpeggios when you see them in the music.  

There are twenty-four keys total, 12 Major and 12 minor keys. Students will pass off as many keys as possible at the lessons throughout the school year. All scales, chords, arpeggios and cadences must be played with correct fingering, by memory, and with the metronome tempo given by the teacher. Please see the required tempo markings on the “Scale-a-thon” log in the student assignment book. The top three winners will receive a beautiful trophy at the spring recital in May.

There are three areas of the Piano Rewards Program:

REWARDS

Last day to finish the rewards program is April 17, 2026.