Scales (again)

[Magnus]

I've never practised scales even though I played for 8 years. Now I begin to play them faster, but then some notes get extra marked at random. Especially with my thumb. I'm sure this is an old thread, but I didnt find it. Can someone help me? Maybe give me a link to the old thread?

[fnork]

something which should help your thumb, is to do your best to play it SOFTER and more quiet than the other fingers. This will "balance" your hand better.
The essential thing is to play slowly. Play in a tempo where you feel that you have total control, and no notes become extra marked. When it works, increase the tempo but just a little bit.

You'll probably notice that playing different tonalities will produce different extra marked notes. Listen carefully, and find out why these notes are extra marked. Is it because of the finger hitting the note? Is it because it's a black key? If you are aware of WHY it doesn't sound good, you have better chances to improve your playing.

[bernhard]

All these threads deal with scales (there are more, but these should get you started). Take your pick.


https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=teac;action=display;num=1081008341
(teaching scales)

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1079372061
(complements the previous thread)

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1081706825

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1088266799;start=8
(Scale improvisation as a way to get familiar with the notes of the scale)

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1080296644;start=9
(alternative fingering for all major and minor scales)

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1060942297
(chromatic scale fingering relevant to Chopin’s Fantasie impromptu. Discussion on fingering).

Best wishes.
Bernhard

[Spatula]

All these threads deal with scales (there are more, but these should get you started). Take your pick.


https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=teac;action=display;num=1081008341
(teaching scales)

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1079372061
(complements the previous thread)

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1081706825

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1088266799;start=8
(Scale improvisation as a way to get familiar with the notes of the scale)

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1080296644;start=9
(alternative fingering for all major and minor scales)

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=stud;action=display;num=1060942297
(chromatic scale fingering relevant to Chopin’s Fantasie impromptu. Discussion on fingering).

Best wishes.
Bernhard

Scales are totally found in repretoire or else there'd be no use for it.

Such an example out of hundreds of pieces is what I'm doing right now, Chopin Sonata 1, presto.  There is a broken octave scale in C minor decending, and I'm glad I caught that! It makes practicing pieces so much easier.

[Magnus]

Thanks guys  

[timothy42b]

Thanks guys  

Those were great links.

I came back here to print them out and work on them.

But they don't work any more.  Is there another way to get to those?

thanks
Tim

[jazzyprof]

Those were great links.

I came back here to print them out and work on them.

But they don't work any more.  Is there another way to get to those?

thanks
Tim

Tim:  In the links just change the word "display" to "print" and it should work.

[HomeSchooler]

Tim:  In the links just change the word "display" to "print" and it should work.************************************************

How do you do that?  You click on the link??
and then what?

Or where is it you change to *Display*.........

Thanx..........

Nan

[jazzyprof]

How do you do that?  You click on the link??
and then what?

Or where is it you change to *Display*.........

Thanx..........

Nan

Nan:  You can click on the link and it will take you to a page with an announcement.  Go to the "address" box in your browser at the top of the page (where it says https://....).  Somewhere in there you'll see "action=display".  Change the word "display" to "print", hit enter.  And voila!

[johnnypiano]

Hi!  In particular to Magnus.  I would be interested to know why you have decided to practise scales after eight years.  What are you hoping to get from them that you didn’t get from practising other things, and what other methods of practising do you use?

The suggestion, from fnork, to play slowly is good.  Even better is his idea that if you can find out for yourself why things are difficult/different in black and white-key scales, you will learn more.     

[bernhard]

Thanks guys  

Those were great links.

I came back here to print them out and work on them.

But they don't work any more.  Is there another way to get to those?

thanks
Tim

Here are the new links:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2153.msg18525.html#msg18525
(Fingering for chromatic scales)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2313.msg19807.html#msg19807
(Speed of scales – important factors in speed playing and suggests an alternative fingering for scales).

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2533.msg21955.html#msg21955
(structured plan to learn scales and arpeggios – includes description of repeated note-groups and other tricks - complete poem that inspired La fille aux cheveux du lin)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2619.msg22756.html#msg22756
(complete unorthodox fingering for all major and minor scales plus an explanation)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2701.msg23134.html#msg23134
(Teaching scales – the cluster method and why one should start with B major).

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2758.msg23889.html#msg23889
(scales & compositions – the real importance of scales is to develop the concept of key, not exercise)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2920.msg25568.html#msg25568
(how to play superfast scales)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2983.msg26079.html#msg26079
(Best order to learn scales – what does it mean not to play scales outside pieces)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2998.msg26268.html#msg26268
(why and when to practise scales HS and HT – Pragmatical  x logical way of teaching – analogy with aikido – list of piano techniques – DVORAK – realistic x sports martial arts – technique and how to acquire it by solving technical problems – Hanon and why it should be avoided - Lemmings)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3499.msg31548.html#msg31548
(using scales as the basis for free improvisation)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.