Keyboard for Trinity Grade 1

This 18-hour beginner-friendly online course offers one class per week, taught by our most experienced and qualified teachers. Get personalized guidance and start your certification journey with assurance!

1. Music Notation & Theory

• Recognizing treble and bass clefs, note values, and rests.
• Understanding time signatures, simple rhythms, and basic articulation marks.
• Introduction to dynamics (p, f, mf, crescendo, diminuendo).
• Identifying and playing chord symbols and progressions.

 

2. Chords /Scale construction

Chord Formulas: Students will learn the construction of basic chords, including major and minor triads, to understand harmony.

Scale Formulas: Students will be taught the formulas for major and natural minor scales to build a strong foundation in melody creation.

 

3. Keyboard Exercises

 

Scales & Chord Knowledge:

• G major, D minor (hands separately).
• Dorian scale on G, Dorian scale on D.
• G major pentatonic, D major pentatonic.
• Blues scale on D.
• Chromatic scale in contrary motion starting on D.
• Chord progression of I–V in G major and D minor.


Keyboard Technique & Finger Exercises:

• Playing one of the above scales in the RH while accompanying with chords I and V in the LH.
• Basic hand coordination exercises.
• Simple melodic phrasing and articulation practice.

 

4. Repertoire

 

Candidates perform three contrasting pieces from the Trinity Grade 1 syllabus, focusing on:

• Developing rhythmic accuracy and fluency.
• Expressive playing using dynamics and articulation.
• Understanding the style and character of each piece.

 

Sight Reading

• Candidates perform a short, unseen piece after 30 seconds of preparation. 
• The exercise will be at a level lower than the exam to build confidence and reading skills.

 

Aural Skills

• Recognizing differences in pitch, rhythm, and dynamics.
• Identifying simple intervals and melodic changes.
• Responding to a short piece played by the examiner with musical observations.