The Big Problem Intermediate Students Face
After completing the Piano Express program—or demonstrating equivalent skills through a placement evaluation—students are no longer beginners. They’ve built a strong foundation: they can read music, count rhythms, and play with both hands together. They’ve learned how to practice effectively, follow instructions, and perform with confidence.
But now, a new challenge arises.
As students reach the intermediate stage, their biggest obstacle becomes direction. The early stages of learning piano are filled with quick wins and exciting milestones. But once those basics are mastered, progress starts to feel less obvious. Students may start asking:
Without a clear path, students can feel stuck—repeating pieces of similar difficulty without moving forward. Practice loses purpose. Motivation dips. And for many families, this stage feels like wandering in circles rather than climbing toward something greater.
But now, a new challenge arises.
As students reach the intermediate stage, their biggest obstacle becomes direction. The early stages of learning piano are filled with quick wins and exciting milestones. But once those basics are mastered, progress starts to feel less obvious. Students may start asking:
- “What’s next?”
- “How do I get better?”
- “What am I even working toward now?”
Without a clear path, students can feel stuck—repeating pieces of similar difficulty without moving forward. Practice loses purpose. Motivation dips. And for many families, this stage feels like wandering in circles rather than climbing toward something greater.
Our Solution: The RCM Certificate Program
To help students move beyond the intermediate plateau, we offer the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Certificate Program—a nationally recognized system that provides a clear path from intermediate to advanced piano playing.
This program doesn’t just teach students how to play harder pieces. It gives them a step-by-step framework with measurable goals, expert feedback, and internationally standardized benchmarks. Each level in the RCM curriculum guides students forward in all areas of musical development: performance, technique, ear training, sight reading, and theory.
This program doesn’t just teach students how to play harder pieces. It gives them a step-by-step framework with measurable goals, expert feedback, and internationally standardized benchmarks. Each level in the RCM curriculum guides students forward in all areas of musical development: performance, technique, ear training, sight reading, and theory.
How Our Program works:
- Structured Progress: Students work through a defined curriculum, from Level Preparatory A all the way through ARCT (Associate Diploma, Bachelor's Piano Performance Equivalent), with each level building on the last.
- External Motivation: Formal assessments at the end of each level provide real-world recognition of a student’s skills, keeping them engaged and accountable.
- Certificates and Credentials: Each completed level earns a certificate from the Royal Conservatory, which can be used on high school resumes, college applications, and even scholarship portfolios.
- Personalized Instruction: Lessons are customized to each student’s learning style and goals, while still staying aligned with the rigorous standards of the RCM curriculum.
- Pathway to Excellence: The RCM program prepares students not just to play well, but to understand music deeply—developing into well-rounded, expressive musicians who are ready for advanced repertoire, competitions, and conservatory-level work.
The Long-Term Impact
Students who commit to the RCM Certificate Program don’t just become better pianists—they become true musicians. With each level, they gain a deeper understanding of music history, theory, and expressive performance. By the time they complete the advanced levels of the program, they’ve built the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue formal music study at the college or conservatory level.
Whether their goal is performance, composition, or teaching, students graduate from this program with:
As an added benefit, students enrolled in this program may also be considered for paid positions as Teacher’s Assistants at Eric’s Piano School. Many of our advanced students find their first job giving back to the very Piano Express program they started in—mentoring younger students, reinforcing their own skills, and becoming role models within our community.
The RCM pathway is more than just a curriculum—it’s a launchpad for students who want to carry their musical journey into adulthood with excellence, purpose, and leadership.
Whether their goal is performance, composition, or teaching, students graduate from this program with:
- A comprehensive grasp of the major classical periods—Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern.
- A fluency in the language of music: reading, writing, analyzing, and expressing it with confidence.
- The credentials and experience to teach others or continue professional development in music education.
As an added benefit, students enrolled in this program may also be considered for paid positions as Teacher’s Assistants at Eric’s Piano School. Many of our advanced students find their first job giving back to the very Piano Express program they started in—mentoring younger students, reinforcing their own skills, and becoming role models within our community.
The RCM pathway is more than just a curriculum—it’s a launchpad for students who want to carry their musical journey into adulthood with excellence, purpose, and leadership.
