diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d181b63..23acc1d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -28,6 +28,16 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   resume position (and still counts as playing today for the streak).
   Passports surface it honestly: "14.2 h in Blues" under the badge and on the
   shelf cover — a true fact that only grows, never a target or a meter.
+- **Career passport drills, curated** — Bronze in blues/rock/metal/funk/jazz
+  now also asks for that genre's signature Virtuoso drill (Blues Shuffle,
+  Power Chords & Backbeat, Gallop Picking, 16th Pocket, Shell Voicings — one
+  per genre, data-driven in `passports.json` with display labels). Drill
+  lists are per-instrument (`virtuoso_nodes: {instrument: [nodes]}`; a flat
+  list still means guitar), so a keys passport never demands a guitar drill.
+  A drill counts as cleared on the first real completion artifact — a
+  top-tier clean pass in one key (`keysCleared`), any depth rung, or
+  mastery — rather than only the maxed-speed depth flips. Genres without a
+  curated drill stay songs-only.
 - **Career passports (backend)** — the badge-journey layer on top of career stars.
   New career-plugin endpoints: `GET /api/plugins/career/passports` (per-instrument
   passport walls: genre badges computed on read from `song_stats` × the library's
diff --git a/plugins/career/passports.json b/plugins/career/passports.json
index 423f977..4e55d42 100644
--- a/plugins/career/passports.json
+++ b/plugins/career/passports.json
@@ -3,7 +3,20 @@
         "songs": 5,
         "min_stars": 2
     },
-    "genres": {},
+    "genres": {
+        "blues": { "virtuoso_nodes": { "guitar": ["blues_shuffle"] } },
+        "rock": { "virtuoso_nodes": { "guitar": ["rock_power_backbeat"] } },
+        "metal": { "virtuoso_nodes": { "guitar": ["melodic_metal_gallop"] } },
+        "funk": { "virtuoso_nodes": { "guitar": ["sixteenth_pocket"] } },
+        "jazz": { "virtuoso_nodes": { "guitar": ["vl_shells"] } }
+    },
+    "drill_labels": {
+        "blues_shuffle": "Blues Shuffle",
+        "rock_power_backbeat": "Power Chords & Backbeat",
+        "melodic_metal_gallop": "Gallop Picking",
+        "sixteenth_pocket": "16th Pocket",
+        "vl_shells": "Shell Voicings"
+    },
     "graded_instruments": [
         "guitar",
         "keys"
diff --git a/plugins/career/routes.py b/plugins/career/routes.py
index 26ba518..fd52c80 100644
--- a/plugins/career/routes.py
+++ b/plugins/career/routes.py
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ def _library_genres():
                   key=lambda r: (-r["songs_in_library"], r["genre_key"]))
 
 
-def _badge_requirement(gkey):
+def _badge_requirement(gkey, instrument="guitar"):
     cfg = _state["passports_content"]
     req = dict(cfg.get("badge_requirement") or {})
     req.setdefault("songs", 5)
@@ -284,8 +284,15 @@ def _badge_requirement(gkey):
     override = (cfg.get("genres") or {}).get(gkey)
     if isinstance(override, dict):
         req.update(override)
-    req["virtuoso_nodes"] = [n for n in (req.get("virtuoso_nodes") or [])
-                             if isinstance(n, str)]
+    # virtuoso_nodes: {instrument: [node_ids]} — a passport only carries its
+    # own instrument's drills. A flat list keeps meaning guitar (back-compat;
+    # virtuoso's drill content is guitar-first).
+    nodes = req.get("virtuoso_nodes") or []
+    if isinstance(nodes, dict):
+        nodes = nodes.get(instrument) or []
+    elif instrument != "guitar":
+        nodes = []
+    req["virtuoso_nodes"] = [n for n in nodes if isinstance(n, str)]
     return req
 
 
@@ -298,14 +305,50 @@ def _drill_by_node():
     return doc.get("received_at"), by_node
 
 
+def _merge_drill_nodes(old, new):
+    """Gained-only merge of virtuoso byNode snapshots: a completion artifact
+    once relayed never un-earns via a stale snapshot (multi-browser races,
+    settings import, the once-per-session boot relay). Incoming wins the
+    descriptive fields; masteredAt / depth flips / keysCleared only grow."""
+    out = dict(old)
+    for node_id, incoming in new.items():
+        if not isinstance(incoming, dict):
+            continue
+        cur = out.get(node_id)
+        if not isinstance(cur, dict):
+            out[node_id] = incoming
+            continue
+        merged = dict(cur)
+        merged.update(incoming)
+        merged["masteredAt"] = cur.get("masteredAt") or incoming.get("masteredAt")
+        d_old = cur.get("depth") if isinstance(cur.get("depth"), dict) else {}
+        d_new = incoming.get("depth") if isinstance(incoming.get("depth"), dict) else {}
+        depth = dict(d_new)
+        for axis, val in d_old.items():
+            if val and not depth.get(axis):
+                depth[axis] = val
+        if depth:
+            merged["depth"] = depth
+        keys_old = cur.get("keysCleared") if isinstance(cur.get("keysCleared"), list) else []
+        keys_new = incoming.get("keysCleared") if isinstance(incoming.get("keysCleared"), list) else []
+        merged["keysCleared"] = keys_old + [k for k in keys_new if k not in keys_old]
+        out[node_id] = merged
+    return out
+
+
 def _node_cleared(by_node, node_id):
-    """A drill counts as cleared on real completion evidence: mastered, or any
-    depth rung flipped true (virtuoso's gained-only false→true artifacts)."""
+    """A drill counts as cleared on real completion evidence: mastered, any
+    depth rung flipped true, or a key cleared (a top-tier clean pass in one
+    key — virtuoso's first gained-only artifact, and an achievable Bronze
+    bar; the depth rungs additionally require a maxed speed tier)."""
     entry = by_node.get(node_id)
     if not isinstance(entry, dict):
         return False
     depth = entry.get("depth") if isinstance(entry.get("depth"), dict) else {}
-    return bool(entry.get("masteredAt")) or any(bool(v) for v in depth.values())
+    keys = entry.get("keysCleared")
+    return (bool(entry.get("masteredAt"))
+            or any(bool(v) for v in depth.values())
+            or bool(isinstance(keys, list) and keys))
 
 
 def _passports_view():
@@ -323,7 +366,7 @@ def _passports_view():
         for gkey, meta in sorted(opened.items(),
                                  key=lambda kv: ((kv[1] or {}).get("opened_at") or "", kv[0])):
             meta = meta if isinstance(meta, dict) else {}
-            req = _badge_requirement(gkey)
+            req = _badge_requirement(gkey, inst)
             songs = list(played.get((inst, gkey), {}).values())
             for s in songs:
                 s["qualifies"] = s["stars"] >= req["min_stars"]
@@ -362,6 +405,8 @@ def _passports_view():
             "badge_requirement": cfg.get("badge_requirement") or {},
             "graded_instruments": sorted(graded),
             "instruments": list(cfg.get("instruments") or []),
+            # Career-side display names for virtuoso drill node ids.
+            "drill_labels": dict(cfg.get("drill_labels") or {}),
         },
         "instruments": instruments,
         "genres": _library_genres(),
@@ -536,11 +581,16 @@ def setup(app, context):
         # Only the fields the badge check reads are kept.
         if not isinstance(body, dict) or not isinstance(body.get("byNode"), dict):
             raise HTTPException(400, "Expected a progress snapshot with byNode.")
-        snapshot = {"mode": body.get("mode"), "xp": body.get("xp"),
-                    "byNode": body["byNode"]}
-        if len(json.dumps(snapshot)) > DRILL_SNAPSHOT_MAX_BYTES:
+        # Bound the INCOMING snapshot before the merge — the gained-only merge
+        # drops junk entries, which must not become a size-guard bypass.
+        if len(json.dumps(body["byNode"])) > DRILL_SNAPSHOT_MAX_BYTES:
             raise HTTPException(413, "Snapshot too large.")
         with _lock:
+            _, existing = _drill_by_node()
+            snapshot = {"mode": body.get("mode"), "xp": body.get("xp"),
+                        "byNode": _merge_drill_nodes(existing, body["byNode"])}
+            if len(json.dumps(snapshot)) > DRILL_SNAPSHOT_MAX_BYTES:
+                raise HTTPException(413, "Snapshot too large.")
             _save_json(_drill_file(), {"received_at": _now_iso(),
                                        "snapshot": snapshot})
         return {"ok": True}
diff --git a/plugins/career/screen.js b/plugins/career/screen.js
index b4242b9..1beb96d 100644
--- a/plugins/career/screen.js
+++ b/plugins/career/screen.js
@@ -460,9 +460,11 @@
         renderPassports();
         if (!_ppBootstrapped) {
             _ppBootstrapped = true;
-            // First run on this browser: seed the server with the local drill
-            // snapshot if it has never received one.
-            if (!(view.drill_state || {}).received_at) relayDrillState();
+            // Sync the local drill snapshot once per session — drill progress
+            // made before the career plugin existed (or a relay POST that
+            // failed) must not deny a gated badge until the next virtuoso
+            // event happens to fire. Tiny payload, single-user app.
+            relayDrillState();
         }
     }
 
@@ -562,6 +564,20 @@
         const req = p.requirement || {};
         const need = Math.max(0, (req.songs || 0) - p.qualifying_count);
         const starGl = '★'.repeat(req.min_stars || 0);
+        const reqNodes = (p.drills || {}).required || [];
+        const clearedNodes = new Set((p.drills || {}).cleared || []);
+        const labels = ((_pp && _pp.config) || {}).drill_labels || {};
+        const pendingDrills = reqNodes.filter((n) => !clearedNodes.has(n));
+        // The invite names what actually blocks the stamp: songs first, then
+        // the genre drill once the song bar is met.
+        let invite;
+        if (need > 0) {
+            invite = need === 1 ? `One more ${starGl} song mints this stamp.`
+                : `${need} more ${starGl} songs mint this stamp.`;
+        } else {
+            const names = pendingDrills.map((n) => labels[n] || n).join(', ');
+            invite = `Clear ${names || 'the genre drill'} in Virtuoso to mint this stamp.`;
+        }
         let badgeArea = '';
         if (p.badge === 'shown_not_judged') {
             badgeArea = `<div class="pp-snj">Shown, not judged — your ${esc(ppLabel(inst).toLowerCase())} repertoire speaks for itself.</div>`;
@@ -576,17 +592,15 @@
                 <span class="pp-stamp-genre">${esc(p.genre.toUpperCase())}</span>
                 <span class="pp-stamp-tier">BRONZE</span>
             </div>
-            <div class="pp-invite">${need === 1 ? `One more ${starGl} song mints this stamp.` : `${need} more ${starGl} songs mint this stamp.`}</div>`;
+            <div class="pp-invite">${esc(invite)}</div>`;
         }
         const hours = fmtHours(p.seconds_total);
         const odometer = hours
             ? `<div class="pp-hours">${hours} in ${esc(p.genre)}</div>` : '';
         let drills = '';
-        const reqNodes = (p.drills || {}).required || [];
         if (reqNodes.length) {
-            const cleared = new Set((p.drills || {}).cleared || []);
             drills = `<div class="pp-drills">${reqNodes.map((n) =>
-                `<div class="pp-drill${cleared.has(n) ? ' cleared' : ''}">${cleared.has(n) ? '✓' : '○'} ${esc(n)}</div>`).join('')}</div>`;
+                `<div class="pp-drill${clearedNodes.has(n) ? ' cleared' : ''}">${clearedNodes.has(n) ? '✓' : '○'} ${esc(labels[n] || n)}</div>`).join('')}</div>`;
         }
         // Graded instruments collect stubs at the badge bar; shown-not-judged
         // instruments have no bar — every played genre song is repertoire.
diff --git a/tests/plugins/career/test_passports.py b/tests/plugins/career/test_passports.py
index c58312e..0e2c9b8 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/career/test_passports.py
+++ b/tests/plugins/career/test_passports.py
@@ -27,13 +27,47 @@ def _passport(client, instrument="guitar", genre_key="blues"):
 
 
 def test_badge_earned_at_five_genre_songs_two_stars(client, meta_db):
+    # Soul has no curated drill requirement — songs alone mint the badge.
+    for i in range(5):
+        meta_db.add(f"soul{i}.feedpak", 0, 0.8, genre="Soul", arrangements=LEAD)
+    _open(client, "guitar", "Soul")
+    p = _passport(client, "guitar", "soul")
+    assert p["badge"] == "earned"
+    assert p["qualifying_count"] == 5
+    assert all(s["qualifies"] and s["stars"] == 2 for s in p["songs"])
+
+
+def test_shipped_blues_drill_gates_and_keys_cleared_clears_it(client, meta_db):
+    # Blues ships a guitar drill (blues_shuffle): songs alone are not enough.
     for i in range(5):
         meta_db.add(f"blues{i}.feedpak", 0, 0.8, genre="Blues", arrangements=LEAD)
     _open(client)
     p = _passport(client)
+    assert p["badge"] == "in_progress"
+    assert p["drills"]["required"] == ["blues_shuffle"]
+    # One key cleared (a top-tier clean pass) counts as cleared — the depth
+    # rungs are a higher bar than Bronze needs.
+    res = client.post("/api/plugins/career/drill-state", json={
+        "mode": "casual", "xp": 10,
+        "byNode": {"blues_shuffle": {"reps": 12, "keysCleared": ["E"],
+                                     "depth": {"travel": None, "clean": None},
+                                     "masteredAt": None}}})
+    assert res.status_code == 200
+    p = _passport(client)
+    assert p["drills"]["cleared"] == ["blues_shuffle"]
+    assert p["badge"] == "earned"
+
+
+def test_drill_lists_are_per_instrument(client, meta_db):
+    # Keys is graded but Blues curates only a GUITAR drill — a keys passport
+    # earns on songs alone.
+    keys_arr = [{"type": "lead", "name": "Keys"}]
+    for i in range(5):
+        meta_db.add(f"kb{i}.feedpak", 0, 0.9, genre="Blues", arrangements=keys_arr)
+    _open(client, "keys")
+    p = _passport(client, "keys")
+    assert p["drills"]["required"] == []
     assert p["badge"] == "earned"
-    assert p["qualifying_count"] == 5
-    assert all(s["qualifies"] and s["stars"] == 2 for s in p["songs"])
 
 
 def test_badge_in_progress_below_the_bar(client, meta_db):
@@ -155,3 +189,22 @@ def test_hours_odometer_sums_seconds_per_instrument_and_genre(client, meta_db):
     _open(client, "bass")
     assert _passport(client, "guitar")["seconds_total"] == 900
     assert _passport(client, "bass")["seconds_total"] == 1200
+
+
+def test_drill_state_merge_is_gained_only(client, meta_db):
+    # A cleared drill survives a later STALE snapshot that lacks it
+    # (multi-browser race / settings import / the boot relay).
+    for i in range(5):
+        meta_db.add(f"blues{i}.feedpak", 0, 0.8, genre="Blues", arrangements=LEAD)
+    _open(client)
+    client.post("/api/plugins/career/drill-state", json={
+        "byNode": {"blues_shuffle": {"keysCleared": ["E"]}}})
+    assert _passport(client)["badge"] == "earned"
+    # Stale relay: empty byNode, then one with the node but nothing earned.
+    client.post("/api/plugins/career/drill-state", json={"byNode": {}})
+    client.post("/api/plugins/career/drill-state", json={
+        "byNode": {"blues_shuffle": {"reps": 2, "keysCleared": [],
+                                     "depth": {"travel": None}, "masteredAt": None}}})
+    p = _passport(client)
+    assert p["drills"]["cleared"] == ["blues_shuffle"]
+    assert p["badge"] == "earned"