Solo Repertoire
Solo Piano Repertoire
A comprehensive course cultivating creative independence, advanced technique, and deep musicianship across all style periods — from Bach and Scarlatti to Debussy, Prokofiev, and beyond
ABOUT THE COURSE
Cultivating the Complete Concert Pianist
The purpose of this piano course is to cultivate a student’s creative independence as a performer, while fostering well-rounded musicianship. Through the development of fundamental knowledge in sound production, technical skills, musicality, and sensitivity, students grow into confident, expressive artists.
Students develop a thorough study of repertoire representative of several style periods, gain superior knowledge of historical, theoretical, and performance practice issues pertaining to the repertoire, and demonstrate increasing levels of technical and musical maturity.
A semester repertoire list submitted at the end of each term serves as a record of achievements — valuable for audition portfolios, graduate school applications, and professional biography development.
“The solo repertoire course is not merely about learning pieces — it is about developing the habits, knowledge, and inner life of a serious musician. Every work becomes a gateway to a richer understanding of what it means to perform.”
— Dr. Archie Chen
✦  All four style periods: Baroque to Contemporary
✦  Weekly studio lessons with Dr. Chen
✦  Semester repertoire list & portfolio
✦  Performance class & jury preparation
✦  Available in Spokane or remotely
REPERTOIRE BY STYLE PERIOD
Four Centuries of Piano Literature
The course spans the full sweep of the piano repertoire — from the contrapuntal mastery of the Baroque through the dramatic depth of the Romantic era, the impressionist colour of the early 20th century, and the bold language of contemporary composers.
Baroque
Composers: J.S. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, G.F. Handel, François Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau
Representative works: Well-Tempered Clavier · English & French Suites · Partitas · Keyboard Sonatas · Ordres
Classical
Composers: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Clementi, Hummel
Representative works: Piano Sonatas · Theme & Variations · Bagatelles · Character Pieces
Romantic
Composers: Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Brahms, Schubert, Mendelssohn
Representative works: Nocturnes · Ballades · Études · Impromptus · Intermezzi · Fantasies · Character Pieces
20th Century & Contemporary
Composers: Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, BartĂłk, Scriabin, Shostakovich, contemporary composers
Representative works: Préludes · Images · Sonatas · Toccatas · Suites · Works by living composers
COURSE FOCUS AREAS
What You Will Develop
The course addresses every dimension of the complete pianist — from mechanics and memory to interpretation, stage presence, and the intellectual life of a serious performer.
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Advanced Piano Technique
Systematic development through exercises by Czerny, Hanon, Cramer, Heller, Chopin, Liszt, and Pischna — alongside the technical demands of the repertoire itself.
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Repertoire Breadth
A wide-ranging study of works from all four major style periods ensures fluency across diverse musical languages, aesthetics, and historical contexts.
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Critical Listening
Active listening to reference recordings develops an informed aesthetic ear — the ability to perceive, describe, and critique musical performance at a high level.
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Sight-Reading Fluency
Weekly sight-reading practice builds the reading skills essential for rapid learning, collaborative music-making, and professional versatility.
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Performance Practice
Historical and theoretical study of each work — its context, style conventions, and editorial issues — informs authentic, informed interpretation.
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Stage Craft & Artistry
Preparation for studio class, recital hour, juries, and degree recitals builds the performance confidence and stage presence of a professional artist.
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
What You Will Achieve
Upon completion of the course, students will have demonstrated nine core competencies spanning technical mastery, repertoire knowledge, performance skills, and musical independence.
01
Repertoire Across All Periods
Acquire a strong familiarity with a wide variety of solo repertoire spanning Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary style periods.
02
Advanced Technical Command
Develop advanced piano technique through systematic study of technical exercises alongside the demands of the assigned repertoire.
03
Keyboard Theory & Scales
Achieve mastery of scales, arpeggios, chords, and cadences in all major and minor keys, in progressively demanding configurations.
04
Sight-Reading Fluency
Acquire genuine fluency and confidence in sight-reading — an essential skill for every working professional pianist.
05
Public Performance Skills
Demonstrate excellence as a performer through appearances in studio class, Recital Hour, studio recitals, juries, and degree recitals.
06
Repertoire Listening Culture
Develop familiarity with the most significant works in the piano literature through dedicated, active listening to quality reference recordings.
07
Critical Listening & Feedback
Gain critical listening skills and the ability to communicate thoughtful, constructive criticism of live and recorded performances.
08
Consistent Practice Habits
Establish a focused, disciplined, and consistent daily practice routine — the bedrock of sustained musical growth.
09
Independent Learning
Develop the ability to learn new repertoire independently, with initiative, intellectual curiosity, and artistic self-direction.
FEATURED PERFORMANCE
Venezia e Napoli, S.159 — Franz Liszt
A performance by Dr. Archie Chen. Liszt’s Venezia e Napoli is a set of three character pieces evoking the spirit of Venice and Naples — one of the great showpieces of the Romantic piano literature, and a paradigmatic example of the repertoire studied in this course.
DAILY PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS
The Practice Framework
Daily, disciplined practice is the cornerstone of this course. Dr. Chen structures each student’s practice sessions to maximise both technical progress and musical depth.
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Daily Practice: 2+ Hours
Students are expected to practise daily, including weekends. The recommended minimum is two hours per day, adjusted to individual level and goals. Practice sessions should include:
→  Technical warm-up exercises
→  Assigned repertoire work
→  Sight-reading practice
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Weekly Studio Lessons
Each student receives a weekly private lesson with Dr. Chen, structured around the assigned repertoire, technique, and any upcoming performances or juries.
→  Repertoire coaching & feedback
→  Technical problem-solving
→  Performance preparation
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Self-Evaluation & Recording
Each student uses a recording device (phone, camera, or dedicated recorder) to regularly capture and review their own practice and performances for self-assessment.
→  Identify areas for improvement
→  Track progress over time
→  Build a performance archive
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common Questions
Who is this course suitable for?
This course is designed for advanced and pre-college piano students, undergraduate and graduate piano majors, and serious adult learners who wish to build a professional-level solo repertoire. Students should have a foundational technique in place; Dr. Chen will assess suitability during an initial consultation.
Is this the same as private piano lessons?
This is a structured course in solo repertoire, with a defined curriculum covering all four style periods, technical development, performance practice, and critical listening. It is more comprehensive than traditional private lessons, and includes a semester portfolio, performance class participation, and a final jury.
Can lessons be taken online or remotely?
Yes. Dr. Chen offers all lesson formats both in-person in Spokane, Washington, and remotely via video call to students worldwide. Online lessons are conducted at the same standard as in-person sessions.
How are students assessed?
Assessment is ongoing through weekly lessons, participation in studio class and Recital Hour, juries at the end of each semester, and the submission of a semester repertoire list. For degree students, the course culminates in required recital performances.
What repertoire will I be assigned?
Repertoire is carefully assigned by Dr. Chen based on each student’s current level, technical needs, and artistic goals. The goal is always to stretch the student while ensuring musical success — choosing works that challenge and inspire in equal measure.
SOLO PIANO REPERTOIRE · DR. ARCHIE CHEN
Begin Your Repertoire Journey
Whether you are preparing for a degree recital, building an audition programme, or simply seeking to deepen your relationship with the piano literature, Dr. Chen’s solo repertoire course offers the rigorous, inspiring, and personal guidance you need.