Method guide · RCM
An RCM practice planner for a balanced lesson week
Exam preparation can become uneven when the most familiar piece takes the whole practice session. A shared plan helps the teacher make room for the different areas they have selected. Maestro Planner records those assignments and the student’s follow-through without claiming to determine examination readiness.
Published 21 September 2026 · Maestro Planner
Start with the current syllabus
The teacher should confirm the instrument, level and current requirements from The Royal Conservatory. Record the exact work, edition or exercise reference in the assignment where needed. The planner does not maintain an official requirements database, so a completed notebook checklist must not be treated as confirmation that an exam program is eligible.
Review coverage as well as minutes
Give selected repertoire, technical work and other musicianship tasks recognizable names. In the next lesson, look for areas repeatedly postponed and passages whose notes show the same difficulty. A slower, well-described attempt can help the teacher set a better next assignment; a tempo chart alone cannot predict an examiner’s assessment.
An example week in the notebook
Illustrative teacher–student exchange, not a prescribed lesson or a customer result.
- Teacher assigns
- Work on the teacher-selected repertoire transition, revisit the assigned technical pattern and complete the agreed reading task.
- Student reports
- I practiced the repertoire transition twice this week, but left the reading task until today. The technical pattern still catches on the descent.
- Teacher reviews
- Check the descending pattern and adjust the coming week so the reading task has a clear place in the routine.
Before the next session
- Confirm requirements with the current official syllabus.
- Use exact titles and exercise references.
- Review postponed tasks as well as completed ones.
Does the planner verify RCM exam eligibility or predict marks?
No. Teachers and students must consult current official requirements. Maestro Planner organizes their chosen work and practice reports; it is not an official RCM syllabus checker or assessment service.
Start with the work you already teach
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