Information
For our January 2024 Member Challenge we will be focused on developing technique. Specifically we would like each of you to choose one technique exercise you’ll be mastering by the end of the month.
Your goal for this Member Challenge is to learn your technique so well by the end of the month that you can teach it…and in fact, that is exactly what you’ll do in your last video! Yes, we would like you to try your hand at teaching in your final video. Teaching is an excellent way to deepen learning and it can be a great way to develop your playing beyond simply getting the notes and rhythms correct.
To be able to teach your exercise will require you to look in-depth at every element of your technical exercise. You’ll need to learn it so well that you are comfortable teaching others how to do that same technique. Now, that may mean you want to select something that is a bit easier so you can really master the technique. Try not to choose an exercise that is too difficult for you!
Choosing your exercise
For Grades 1-5, please choose one exercise from either the Technique Assessments, the Practice Routines, or the Scales and Arpeggios Course.
For Grades 6-8, please choose one exercise from either the Practice Routines or the Scales and Arpeggios Course.
In addition to the lessons on your exercise from the Technique Assessments, the Practice Routines, or the Scales and Arpeggios Course, you may want to look at the Technique Library to see if there are additional lessons on your technique.
Note: There are a few upper-grade technique exercises that do not have lessons yet, so please select an exercise that does have a lesson, even if that means selecting something below your grade level.
The Process
- Week 1: Please record a baseline video of your technique exercise. This is just a reference recording for your own benefit so you know what things to work on. You don’t need to prepare for this — just share a recording of where you are with the technique exercise on day 1.
- Week 2: Watch back your week 1 video and take notes on what needs additional work. We’d also like you to watch all of the educational materials at the Academy on your exercise. This will help you refine which things you should be focusing on as well as how to work on them. Record a new video playing your exercise, but working on your new focus points. When you post your week 2 update with your video, include a description of what you’ll be focusing on with your exercise. The CGC Team will respond to your week 2 video to help you refine your focus points so you know what to keep working on for the rest of the challenge.
- Week 3: Continue refining your technique this week based on your findings over the previous two weeks. The Goal here is to really master your technique exercise. Record a video to show your progress. The CGC Team will respond to your week 3 video to let you know what still needs refining and how to prepare for your tutorial.
- Week 4: Prepare a lesson plan and then create a short tutorial lesson on your technique exercise. This could be a video, but can also just be a written-out tutorial.
- In our Live Wrap-up Session we’ll discuss the challenges you encountered, strategies each of you employed to master the material, as well as approaches you took for teaching and how you might use this same approach in your practice moving forward.
Schedule
- Signups open until January 2, 2024
- Week 1 video due by January 7, 2024
- Week 2 video due by January 13, 2024
- Week 3 video due by January 20, 2024
- Week 4 video due by January 27, 2024
- Live Wrap-up Session: January 28, 2024 at 4pm NYC time