First character pieces

You are ready to move on when

1. 1Play Burgmüller's Arabesque, Op. 100 No. 2, all the way through at a steady tempo with crisp staccato chordsCheck yourself: Record the Arabesque and compare it with the reference tutorial, listening first for the runs and then for the chords.
   • Runs even and clear
   • Staccato chords short and together
   • Dynamics as marked
   • No stopping
   Open the reference: Arabesque, Op. 100 No. 2, tutorial
2. 2Play The Happy Farmer from Schumann's Album for the young with the left-hand melody louder than the chordsCheck yourself: Record The Happy Farmer and listen back for the melody: it should be easy to follow from start to end.
   • Left-hand melody sings out
   • Right-hand chords light and short
   • Steady tempo
   Open the reference: Balancing the volume of the hands
3. 3Play a complete short piece from memory without stopping, for a friend or a recordingCheck yourself: Record a full performance from memory in one take, then watch it back as if you were the audience.
   • Started and finished without stopping
   • Kept going after any slip
   • Tempo steady from start to end
   Open the reference: Slow practice, with five tips