Audtion -- scales, question about four octaves

[maestrotim]

Okay, call me stupid, but I have a question regarding college entrance requirements.  For many music school auditions, it is specified to play scales in four octves.  Does this mean four octaves up, four down?  Also, is a certain rhythm implied (steady sixteenths)?

[eddie92099]

Yes four octaves in that direction -------->

<--------- and a further four in that direction.

Don't you just love scales?  

Ed

[thracozaag]

Yes four octaves in that direction -------->

<--------- and a further four in that direction.

Don't you just love scales?  

Ed

Why they still require people to play scales at auditions is beyond me....... :-/

[eddie92099]

I completely agree. I have had many an argument on this forum about the merits of technical exercises!

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=teac;action=display;num=1060010829

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=perf;action=display;num=1062817900

Ed

[thracozaag]

I completely agree. I have had many an argument on this forum about the merits of technical exercises!

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=teac;action=display;num=1060010829

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=perf;action=display;num=1062817900

Ed

 Yikes, I see what you mean.  While I certainly agree that scale playing is fundamental for string players, I'm still not convinced they're absolutely necessary for keyboardists.  I did my share of scales as a youth, but the most helpful exercises I did were in a book by Dohnanyi (hope I got the spelling right).  Those were great for finger independence, which is really the key for acquiring a great technique.  I've known fabulous technicians that swear by scales, and those who scorn them  entirely.  Vladimir dePachmann swore that milking cows was the best exercise.....

[eddie92099]

Yes he was quite a character!
Ed

[Noah]

My teacher recommended the Dohnányi and though I've always found technical exercises quite useless (for me), I find that this one works really well, I rapidly got much more finger independence. The exercises near the end of the book are seriously insane though  

[thracozaag]

My teacher recommended the Dohnányi and though I've always found technical exercises quite useless (for me), I find that this one works really well, I rapidly got much more finger independence. The exercises near the end of the book are seriously insane though  

They sure are!! But I'm grateful for the double-note technique that those exercises helped me to develop.  

[amp]

Typically you play one octave in quarters, two octaves in eight notes, three octaves in triplet, four octaves in sixteenth notes. This is good, because you start off slow (quarter notes) and get fast with the changing rythmn, so that you don't have to jump right in to fast.

I'm not getting in to an arguement, please don't comment on this, Ed. Scales are important to play well, to show your auditioner that you have control and can play freely and even. If you fumble up a piece but play excellent scales, that will help sway the commitee. You have shown them your technical stength. T

[eddie92099]

I'm going to comment.

If an audition panel require scales (which, of course, I don't think they should) then it is obviously important to play them well - it is one of the things they are (unfairly)assessing you on. So I agree with you amp: when scales are dogmatically required, you better make sure you can play them! (What a waste of time though... ),
Ed

[wsmith]

Okay, call me stupid, but I have a question regarding college entrance requirements.  For many music school auditions, it is specified to play scales in four octves.  Does this mean four octaves up, four down?  Also, is a certain rhythm implied (steady sixteenths)?

i hate scales.



i hope someone gets the joke