: Mastery of phrasing, legato, staccato, and dynamic contrasts.

For the uninitiated, John Thompson’s Modern Course for the Piano (Grade 2) is the awkward middle child of piano learning. Grade 1 introduces the landscape. Grade 2 introduces attitude . It moves beyond five-finger positions, throws in syncopation, and famously includes pieces with dramatic titles like “The Gypsy Camp” and “The Spider’s Web.”

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: Developing a clear distinction between legato (smooth), staccato (short/detached), and two-note phrases.