A BETTER WAY TO FINGER SCALES!!

[JTownley]

For those of you having trouble playing scales , I've come up w/ a new way to finger scales to make them faster and smoother to play.
https://www.JoeTownley.com     Lots of piano videos

[jeff]

how?

[JTownley]

I'm in the process of preparing a DVD that will demonstrate the technique. It's too difficult to explain in words. The DVD will be free for the asking. I will post a notice when it is available. I can only say at this point that it REALLY works!!
https://www.JoeTownley.com  Lots of videos

[amee]

I'll be looking forward to the DVD

[JTownley]

Amee, you're first in line!

[janus_007]

Very nice...  

As a newbie I need all the info I can get. Would it be possible to download it also ??

[JTownley]

 The DVD is probably the better way, Janus. If I hd it on my website, it might get downloaded over and over to the point where I'd have a thousand dollar monthly bill for hosting services. If DVD is a problem for you I'll also have some video copies available. How's that?  

[10Fingers]

Though I don't have big problems with scales you make me curious. But I live in Berlin, would that be a problem?

regads,

Thi  

[glamfolk]

yeah, sign me up!  It sounds intriguing......
Dave

[janus_007]

No problem with a DVD. Count me in!

Allthough I live in Denmark, but im willing to pay for it - just come up with a reasonably price  

[JTownley]

 Don't worry about any pricetags, guys and gals. The DVD will be free. We'll discuss opinions and results, if any, here on the forum.  

[S.Peterson]

It sounds interesting. Let me know about more of the details.
Sara

[amee]

I'm very interested in this DVD

Would it be able to play on a computer?  I don't currently have a TV

[frederic]

Im interested too.
amee, you can play DVD's on your computer if you have a DVD drive. Otherwise a DVD player. But since you dont have a TV, that would be the first priority.

[JTownley]

 I'm more inclined now to just add the video to my website and let everyone view or download it from there. I'm heartened by the interest you've all shown and I do think the technique will make a big difference in your scales. I know that since switching to it from the conventional method of fingering it has helped my scales tremendously and I'm sure you, too, will notice a big jump in your speed, smoothness and effort to execute them once you have the technique "under your fingers"   Look for the video to appear around the end of June, as I have a script to rewrite and that will take up the first three weeks of June. The fourth week should be free and I'll tape the video and hand it over to my video tech then. Thanks all.
https://www.JoeTownley.com  

[chopinetta]

really really really?? ooh! this sounds sooo cool! i wonder if my teacher would tolerate it!

[roman]

While your intentions are good Joe, I prefer to stay with the technique that gave birth to Piano Geniuses, like Glenn Gould, Van Cliburn, Horowitz, Mozart, Chopin, Bach, and many others.  

Scales are hard, but practice is the only way to get better.  Play scales for a MINIMUM of 30 minutes each day before you begin playing your songs, it's supposed to be a warmup, and you will see improvements.

Joe, I checked out your website, and it's a sad story what happened to your finger, but not much detail was given, can you give some more info how your injury happened?

[JTownley]

 Yeah, Roman, I'll give you the particulars: I was practicing the Toccata by Poulenc on day and the piece ends with a crashing bottom A with the R.H. I threw my R.H. up in the air and brought it down to hit the A, missed the A and hit the block of wood next to it w/ my forefinger. Semi-permanent nerve damage. Today the inger is a little stiff, i can't bend it straight w/o stiffness, and I still get twinges now and then depending on how much I abuse it (chords and stretching arpeggios ala Chopin Etude Op 10#1, as opposed to running scales)
Re the scales: I think my method makes more sense because it's modeled after the BMaj. scale. Notice now the L.H. starts w/ 4th finger and both hands pivot on the E. Simple technique: always keep the thumbs playing together and the hands will always pivot together, as opposed to the standard method in which one hand pivots after the other. Makes absolutely so sense to me. Peiople reject the technique initially because it feels strange, but i promise if you stick w/ it it'll become so natural you'll wonder why you EVER bothered w/ the other!
https://www.JoeTownley.com     Lots of piano videos!

[roman]

Speaking of scales, B-Major is my favorite scale! I only practice in B-Major! I used to love C-Major because it was so easy, but my teacher told me that B-Major is more comfortable and is better for your fingers.

[JTownley]

 Re B Maj: I hear THAT!!!!https://www.JoeTownley.com

[roman]

Hey Joe!

I have to say I'm really intrigued by your story! It's amazing! I saw some videos on your site, and after a 20 year piano break, I'm shocked and amazed to see how well you play!

I was also wondering, would it be possible to get the score for your composition "Hommage"? I listened to it and really enjoyed it!

And one more question, do you have like a Grand Piano or an upright? From the video's, I'm guessing it's a Grand, because the sound is lovely and it looks pretty big!

Your story is really amazing Joe!

-Roman

[sasson]

Joe,
Please sign me up for your DVD also. Thanks.

S~

[Franz_Liszt]

The best methods are Thumb Over Methods. Sign me up anyway!

[JTownley]

Hi, friends! Thank you for interest in this little enterprise of mine. I'm checking w/ my webserver on the possibility of just setting up a webcam at my piano and demonstrating the technique live on your monitors for those who care to tune in at a specific time, since making a DVD or putting video on my website appear to be an impossibility at this time. A plus, if this can be done properly, would be that those who do tune in could ask questions at the same time. If it goes over well enough, I might make this a regular "informal lesson" type of thing at regular intervals  - say, once a week or so. Hoping I get good new from my server, I remain YOUR servant at large,
https://www.JoeTownley.com

[JTownley]

Hi Roman. Thanks for your kind remarks. Re the Hommage, I'm afraid the score got lost in a mountain of papers - probably got thrown out years ago since it was written when i was in my teens. I searched for it a few months back and came up empty. I've had it in my head all these years so it wasn't a problem to play it. If i get ambitious one of these days I'll sit down and write it out again. Of course, you'll be first in line for a copy when i do. Re the piano, yes it's a baby grand, a Young Chang Pramberger Edition - a real nice piano for the bucks; not too expensive but made w/ Steinway technology, since Pramberger headed Steinway for a number of years before being lured over to Young Chang. Again, thanks for your very nice remarks. I don't really deserve them.
https://www.JoeTownley.com

[sasson]

Joe,
that sounds great ! Thanks for doing this. I am looking forward to it.

S~

[JTownley]

S~, the pleasure is all mine!

[NetherMagic]

Joe I'm really interested in checking out your methods

I might not follow your way of playing scales since I"ve been doin' it the traditional way after a long time, but I'm still curious

I don't check this forum often, so when you get it working and all, if you could, pls contact me thru email (i believe you can see it here)

again good luck with setting this whole thing up, i believe we're all really eager for your innovative ideas =]

[NetherMagic]

and one more thing joe put in as 2nd to receive the score for hommage after roman

thx man you rule!

[JTownley]

 Well, thanx so much for the vote of confidence, Nether. If you were a guy, I'd shake your hand; if you were a girl I'd give you a big kiss (but you'd probably have me arrested). I'll sit down and write out the score in the next couple of weeks. Re the cam: I'll definitely let you know just as soon as I get something up and running. Re the score, I'll let you both know when it's done. Then give me a mailing address and I'll send you both copies (blush).
https://www.JoeTownley.com

[JTownley]

As I study this technology, I'm finding that 2-way interaction will be impossible, due to severe limitations in what can be transmitted over the Internet. For now, it seems I'll only be able to demonstrate at the keyboard and talk to you, but you won't be able to communicate w/ me. If that's okay for you, I'll go ahead with setting everything up. Any opinions?

[NetherMagic]

no prob with me joe we can always talk about it here  

[DrBob]

I originally learned the scales with identical fingerings for all scales with thumbs always together.  However recently I decided to learn the classic fingerings where the thumbs are not always together. It was fun learning them so now I can play the scales either way...

The experience has helped my playing of course...

Bob S  Reno, NV