All piano students should know these basic music theory concepts: 

Staff Awareness

• bass clef
• treble clef

Note Names and Placement

• on the keyboard
• on the staff

Basic Music Vocab

• measure
• bar lines, double bar lines
• repeat symbols
• slurs
• fermatas, etc.

Basic Music Notes

• quarter
• eighth
• whole
• half

Dotted Notes and Triplets

• timing

Rests

• quarter
• eighth
• whole
• half

Time Signatures

• 4/4
• 3/4
• 2/4

Tempos

• Largo
• Adagio
• Andante
• Moderato
• Allegro
• Presto
• Ritardando

Dynamics

• piano
• forte
• piannisimo
• fortissimo

Dynamic Markings

• crescendo
• decrescendo/diminuendo

Accidentals

• sharps
• flats
• natural

Major Scale Pattern

• WWHWWWH

Minor Scale Pattern

• WHWWHWW

Circle of Fifths

• Identify major keys: C, G, D, A, E, B, F#
• Identify minor keys: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb
• Sharp order memorization
• Flat order memorization

Key Signatures

• Identify by sight

Intervals

• Identify by sight
• Recognize by ear

Scale Degrees

• tonic
• subdominant
• dominant

Chords

• I, Root, Tonic
• V7 chords
• I, IV, V chord progressions
• I, V chord inversions

I am not going to pretend that this list covers all the music theory concepts.  Of course it doesn’t.  This list is a live document and I may add or take things off of it.  But this has just been helpful for me in making sure I have at least taught my students these fundamentals of music theory.

Wanting to improve your piano? I would highly recommend you taking a look at the Top 6 Online Piano Lessons and What Each Does Best to find a program that would work well for YOU and what YOU need!

This is what I call my Music Theory Masters page.  When they can pass off all that is on this list, they are music theory masters!

I love teaching theory through games and activities as I believe it helps to solidify the concepts as they apply the concepts.  Check out my Really Fun Piano Games and Activities.