Exams don’t have to feel like a chore. Today, I’m chatting with Nathan Theodoulou from RSL about the exciting changes in the new Rockschool Piano syllabus. Whether your students love pop, jazz, film music, or creative expression, this new syllabus has something for them. We dive into the vision behind the redesign, how it encourages musicality and flexibility, and what it means for modern piano teachers looking to inspire a new generation of players.

• Tim welcomed Nathan Theodoulou from RSL to introduce the new Rockschool Piano syllabus.


• Nathan shared how the syllabus combines classical, pop, film, and jazz influences.


• He explained how students are assessed on creativity, interpretation, and musicality.


• The new syllabus offers a balance of structured progression and modern flexibility.


• Nathan emphasized the importance of having music that students genuinely want to play.


• He described how they redesigned technical exercises to be musically engaging.


• The importance of global accessibility and flexible delivery modes was discussed.


• Tim and Nathan explored how the new syllabus empowers teachers without overprescribing.


• Nathan explained the rationale behind removing sight reading as a mandatory element.


• He highlighted new options for creativity in exams, such as improvisation or original composition.


• The syllabus aims to develop all-around musicianship—not just technical proficiency.


• Music teachers were encouraged to explore the new books and find pieces that excite their students.

Links Mentioned

• RSL Website


• RSL Online Shop


• Pre-Order the New Rockschool Piano Syllabus

Today’s Guest

Nathan is Director of Product and Marketing for the RSL Group. This includes the flagship Rockschool brand, which operates across 60 countries. He oversees the creation of all RSL publications and has created over 50 books to date for the company. He also develops commercial partnerships with the music industry and manufactures, such as Marshall, Yamaha and Abbey Road Studios.

Nathan has over 20 years of experience in the education sector. He was a consultant for global management firm Mott MacDonald. He has worked as a teacher trainer, trained PGCE students and Newly Qualified Teachers. Nathan also spent 10 years with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance and helped to create the award-winning youth theatre now known as Company 3. He also served on the Board of Trustees for the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA).

Nathan maintains a career as a composer and musical director, composing music for stage and screen, and performing at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Shakespeare Company, Barbican and Royal Festival Hall. He has received a diverse selection of commissions including two concertos for cellist Guy Johnston, works for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Academy of St Martin in the Fields, documentary soundtracks for Amazon and scores for theatre productions at the National Theatre. He loves all genres of music, regularly switching between classical, jazz, rock, latin and electronic music. Nathan is a multi-instrumentalist and had recorded on guitar, bass, piano, saxophones and flute.

Today’s Sponsor

RSL Awards is leading the next generation of creativity. We are an international Awarding Organisation, creating qualifications in music, performing arts, and creative industries subjects.

Our vision is to help teachers and students within the creative arts sector through a range of innovative, relevant, and rewarding resources and qualifications. This includes our flagship Rockschool graded resources for piano.

The new edition of Rockschool Piano offers a holistic approach to piano education, shaped around the needs of today’s musicians. Exploring five centuries of music, from classical to classic rock, this genre-spanning syllabus features an expansive mix of popular Hit Tunes, bespoke Rockschool Originals, and brand-new suites of technical study, all packed with class-leading technology.

Find out more about RSL Awards here.

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.

Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly.

TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial

Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.

TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL