Way to practice sixth apart for scales?

[weiwensg]

I'm taking my Grade 8 exam this year. I have some difficulty with the sixth apart in scales, and even my C major is very shaky. Is there any recommended way to practice the scales?

[S.Peterson]

weiwensg,
In what way is your CM scale shaky?
A good way to practice is thirds, contrary motion and sixths.
Do you have a scale book? Hanon is good. If you don't have anything you might try that. I don't know if anyone has anything to add to what I've said. Another thing you might try is to go VERY slow until you can get it down. I relaize this is very boring, but it does work, or at least it works with me.
Hope this helps.
Sarah

[weiwensg]

My fingering always gets garbled up in all the scales for sixth apart, but it is not so bad in C major.
I can handle the third apart very well, but the sixth apart just doesn't work for me.

[tosca1]

The fingerings are basically the same for the scales in octaves and at a 6th and a 3rd apart.  I would suggest that you need to be more secure with your fingerings for the scales an octave apart. If your fingerings get " garbled up" as you say then there is some uncertainty there in the basic fingering of the scale.  

C major is technically the hardest scale  because it is on the white keys.  

Chopin always taught B major first as that scale lies best for the shape of the hands and fingers.

Practise B major from the third and the sixth and see how you go.
Cheers,
Robert.

[frederic]

which grade 8 is this?
This 6th apart is with two hands right?
I would practice hand seperate first. Then together but slowly. then gradually speed up

[amee]

I find the 6th apart more difficult than the 3rd apart as well...even though its exactly the same except reversed in the hands.  (Did that just make sense to anyone besides me?)  Anyway, try practicing slowly, making sure your fingers know the notes.  Try mastering C major first then tackle the others.  Should get easier as you go.

[e60m5]

Grade 8, wow, is that the ABRSM?

Scales a sixth apart - well unfortunately there is no "magic cure" for these things, no "magic key" that once discovered, throws light upon all difficulties involved.

It just takes practice - slow practice, very, very slow practice, sixth by sixth, just getting used to the shape of the hands and the arrangement of the fingers for each step. Metronome practice then to speed the scales up to speed... yeah, those things are vicious.

But, once learnt, valuable...

Good luck with the exam!

[glamfolk]

Tosca1 is right.  Don't start with C.  Learn the 3- and 4-groups for each scale (all scales have essentially the same fingering:1231234, although some don't start on the tonic).  B is easiest.  I find that A is the easiest for 6th scales for me, and you might find one that you gravitate to, but know the fingerings so that you can play the scale fast without looking.  Look for points of reference, like when the 3-fingers are playing together, etc., and focus on those when you're playing, and keep your finger groups together.  Practice.  Rinse and repeat.


[Alfred,] "Hanon and Czerny have been responsible for untold hours of boredom and frustration."-Abby Whiteside

[piano70]

Google "Steinway master class sixths and thirds" and you will get a real expert demonstrating his way of perfecting sixths and thirds.  Take notes.  And, of course, do what he recommends.