Book and Audio Card.

All the Encore on Keys beginner courses (Junior, Primary and Accent Series) progress onto the Achiever Series.  This series has been specifically developed to nurture fundamental musicianship skills.  These skills include improvisation, sight-reading, harmonisation, reading chord charts, ensemble playing and transposition.  Piano technique and performance elements are closely aligned with recognised examination syllabi.  By the end of Achiever Level 4, students will have achieved a standard equivalent to at least Grade 3.

Each level of the Achiever Series is divided into two teaching units, each of which represents approximately 10 weeks of learning.  This provides a tangible goal for the student and a framework for the teacher. Included in each Level are:

• Repertoire Pieces – solo performance pieces
• Keyboard Ensembles and/or Piano Duets – to develop part-playing skills, group interaction and team playing
• Keyboard Harmony – to introduce or reinforce a range of concepts relating to harmony, chord relationships and chord structures
• Finger Zips – to develop specific technical skills
• Scales
• Cadence Chord Playing
• Sight Reading
• Chord Sight Reading and
• Improvisation

Most pieces also include an ‘Achiever Challenge’ which encourages students to develop and advance their skills further. Repertoire pieces come in a variety of styles, such as Christopher Norton’s Struttin’, Clare Hansson’s Backyard Grubs, Kabalevsky’s Toccatina and Mark Gibson’s Kinabalu Sunrise.