Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Build Hand Independence and Basic Technique
6–10 weeks (20–30 min/day)
Develop basic hand position, finger independence, and coordination between hands. Learn the C major scale with both hands separately and then together. Learn the notes of the treble and bass clef. Play a simple beginner piece (e.g. 'Ode to Joy' or 'Mary Had a Little Lamb') with both hands together from memory at a steady tempo.
Proof required
Submit a video recording (minimum 5 minutes) showing: the C major scale played with both hands together at 60 BPM for two octaves; correct hand position with curved fingers and relaxed wrists; and one beginner piece played from memory with both hands, from start to finish, without stopping.
What gets checked
- Both hands play the C major scale simultaneously — not one hand then the other
- Hand position shows curved fingers and no visible wrist tension
- The beginner piece is played from memory to completion without stopping
Common mistakes
- Learning both hands separately for months without ever combining them — hands-together practice must start within the first few weeks
- Practising with tense wrists and flat fingers — these habits cause injury and limit speed at higher levels
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Watch hand position: are fingers curved and wrists relaxed?
- Does the scale recording show both hands playing together at 60 BPM?
- Is the beginner piece played from memory without sheet music visible?
Learn Three Pieces of Increasing Complexity
12–20 weeks (20–30 min/day)
Learn three piano pieces ranging from beginner to early-intermediate level. Each piece must be played from memory, with both hands, from start to finish without stopping, at close to the intended tempo. At least one piece must introduce a new technique not present in milestone 1 (e.g. legato, staccato, dynamic variation, or a basic arpeggio pattern).
Proof required
Submit three video recordings of you playing each piece from memory, both hands, from start to finish without stopping. Identify each piece by title and composer. In a short note (100 words), identify what new technique at least one piece introduced and how you practised it.
What gets checked
- Each piece is played from memory — no sheet music visible in the recording
- No stops or restarts — each piece plays through to completion
- At least one piece demonstrates a technique not present in the milestone 1 recording
Common mistakes
- Learning all three pieces at the same difficulty level — the proof should show progression
- Relying on sheet music for all three pieces rather than building memory — performance requires internalisation
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Is each piece played from memory — no sheet music visible?
- Does each piece play through without stopping?
- Ask: 'what did you practise differently for the hardest piece?' — a real answer names a specific technique or passage
Perform Live or Record for a Real Audience
2–4 weeks (preparation and performance)
Perform at least one complete piano piece for a real external audience — a family gathering, a community event, a school concert, or equivalent — or record a performance and publish it publicly. The piece should represent your current best level, not the easiest thing in your repertoire.
Proof required
Submit: a video of you performing at least one complete piano piece for a visible or audible audience, or a link to a publicly published recording; and a 150-word reflection on what performing for others changed about how you played.
What gets checked
- An audience is visible or audible, or the recording is publicly accessible and shared
- The piece represents your current level — not a beginner piece well below milestone 2 difficulty
- Reflection is specific — what changed about your playing under performance conditions
Common mistakes
- Choosing the easiest piece in your repertoire rather than your current best to avoid the risk of mistakes
- Recording alone privately and not sharing it — the audience element is the proof
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Is an audience visible or is the recording publicly shared?
- Does the performance piece represent the candidate's current level?
- Read the reflection: does it name something specific about performance conditions?
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