Why Follow the RCM Curriculum?
As you may know, I'm a private piano teacher for many years. I started teaching initially because I enjoyed working with little kids and watching them understand and picking up things!
When I worked at music schools, the curriculums were quite standard - every student I taught either followed the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum (RCM) or played pieces that they wanted. There wasn't really an in-between. Either there were goals you strived to achieve or you played whatever you and the teacher decided you should play. This was one of the main reasons why I stopped teaching at the schools. I understand that every student's learning style and goals are different, so why to put them in one of the two boxes?
That being said, having gone through the RCM curriculum to become a fully certified piano teacher myself, I do recommend students at least begin their musical journey with some guidelines such as this curriculum, and once they have the basic theoretical and practical experience, then to continue to explore music outside of this "box".
The RCM curriculum definitely has room for improvement, as the required pieces, while extensive, doesn't fully allow the students to explore all genres of music. There is also the added pressure to complete their exams in one of three terms of the year - if you aren't prepared for the December exams, you'd have to wait a full 6 months before you can take the following session in June.
Additionally, the theory component that complements the grading (ranging from grade 1-10) was acceptable at best. Many piano teachers don't teach theory, instead, students were directed to a private theory teacher or group classes. However, much of the theory learned is far easier to understand in the context of a piece of music a student is learning. For instance, the music schools that I taught never allowed enough time for the piano teacher to delve into theory extensively.
In the most recent syllabus update, RCM has improved some of these concerns. For instance, they've started offering more options throughout the year for students to take exams (almost one session each month), which allows students to progress at a faster rate, if they're already technically prepared to continue, without waiting a full 6 months. The theory syllabus has been revamped completely - rather than having two theory grades that complement practical exams up to grade 8, there is a theory guideline that goes hand in hand with each grade, with the earliest theory exam starting in grade 5. Finally, their teacher's selection that goes outside their pre-determined book of pieces a student can take has expanded to incorporate more recent compositions into the 20th and 21st century.
If you have any questions regarding the RCM curriculum, I do recommend checking out their website for a more detailed explanation. Personally, I will stick to teaching according to their syllabus. What are your thoughts and your teaching methods?