Group 3

Welcome to the NEW TWO WEEK INTENSIVE on tonebase!

 

Improving your Scales with Dominic Cheli

 

We will be working on different techniques on building speed, virtuosity, and confidence in our scales with assignments posted by Dominic!

 

Post your progress with videos and written commentary on how things are going for you!

 

 

Assignment #1

https://youtu.be/6ZXdl3oM2ik

 

In this assignment Dominic discusses "grouping practice" for your scales. This is a great way to increase your speed, finger control and independence.

 

  1. Choose a scale to work on (could be C major, or a relevant scale from your repertoire)
  2. Let's work on "2 note groupings"
  3. Start slow, start hands separate, and increase to 4 octave scales with both hands together
  4. IMPORTANT: Remember to keep the proper fingering at all times for the scale! (The Standard fingering found in any technique book, or in your decided fingering for a scale passage).
  5. Between each grouping, take as much time as you like, and focus on fast movements
  6. If a group poses trouble, stop and work on that specific part of the scale!

Assignment #2

https://youtu.be/hmBeriwA1T8

 

1. Focus on your thumb and (optional) take a video of it!

2. Choose a passage to apply grouping practice to, and share why!

3. Make sure to focus on your scales and practice hands separately, even just polishing/perfecting a few groups! Don't need to complete the whole scale!

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  • Hello Everyone! Looking forward to seeing your work on the assignments for this TWI!

    Please post any questions/videos to help me assist in your development during these two weeks :)

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      • Andy Ng
      • Andy_Ng
      • 6 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Dominic Cheli please take a look at this video of me working on the C-major scale. I'd appreciate any comment and suggestion. Thanks in advance.

      https://youtu.be/I3_D7LbmUL8

      Like 1
    • Andy Ng Hey great work so far!

      I would definitely recommend taking more time between groups and really trying to sprint between them! Push the speed! Consider taking things hands separately.

       

      But a great start!

      Like 1
      • Andy Ng
      • Andy_Ng
      • 6 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Dominic Cheli more work to be done indeed but I feel having much more control over my fingers after the two week challenge. I'll practice more as suggested. Thanks a lot for your time.  

      Like
  • Hi Group 3, the opportunity of this TWI came up just as I was beginning to be more and motivated to work on my scales again. Serendipitous, isn't it? I'd learned them in all keys (major and minor) superficially a couple of years ago. Actually, I'm a flautist, and only began to take lessons and work on piano playing 4 years ago. I say I learned the 24 scales superficially because I basically only memorized the fingerings. Now I want to deep dive into all aspects: touch, attack, speed, work in the context of repertoire.... Looking forward to working together with all of you. Douglas, Ottawa, Canada.

    Like 4
    • I should really add that the deep dive includes playing with ease, as naturally as possible.

      Like 2
    • Douglas McCarthy Awesome, thanks for joining!

      Like
  • I as well happen to be working on my scales in the last few months. I have returned to studying the piano after many years of only casual playing. I hope to gain the same insights and nuances. Best regards, 

    Carlo from Hopewell Junction, New York.

    Like 2
    • Carlodiminico This is great! Looking forward

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  • Hi Everyone, I am so glad we are doing this TWI. My number one difficulty when playing scales is not to be able to start form any point when playing two hands together. I noted Daniel's indication to not start from the beginning to correct a mistake. I will work on that using the d minor scale (I am curently working on a piece with this scale).

    Like 2
    • Sedef CANKOCAK This is great, yes starting from different spots in a scale is wonderful!

      Like
    • Ralf Hess
    • Ralf_Hess
    • 6 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    I want to be able to play the notes with ease and concentrate on the music behind the notes.

    Like 1
    • Ralf Hess Hi Ralf! This is great, let me know if the above assignment can help you :)

      Like
    • Sarah
    • Sarah.11
    • 6 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi Everyone! Just watched assignment #1 and this is brand new way of scale practice for me. I can see the challenge of correct fingering and the benefit of this method. Thanks for the instruction 😊 happy practice group 3!

    Sarah from Seattle 

    Like 1
    • Sarah Awesome let me know how working on this goes!

      Like
    • karen
    • karen.1
    • 6 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Hello everyone,

     

    I signed up for this challenge because I have a hard time feeling motivated to practice my scales so I thought it would be a good idea to do this as a group activity which will make me feel more excited about it. Looking forward to trying this out! Greetings from sunny LA :) 

    Like 1
    • karen Glad you are feeling motivated!

      Like
    • Andy Ng
    • Andy_Ng
    • 6 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Hello everyone, greetings from Luxembourg. 
     

    I started learning to play piano recently and have been struggling with scales, especially with the independence of fingers. I am excited to join this group. 

    Like 1
    • Letizia
    • Letizia
    • 6 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi everybody!

    I would like more information on the grand form of scales and some tips for fast chromatic scales. I currently play the entire keyboard: parallel motion, opposite motion, thirds, and sixths. My goal for this TWI is to learn all the other types of scales that one needs to know.

    Thank you so much Dominic Cheli

    Ciao! 🌞😎✌🏻

    Like 1
    • Letizia This is great! looking forward!

      Like 1
    • Rick
    • Rick.2
    • 6 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Looking forward to improving my finger speed and fingering for scales that are different than c major. 

    Like 1
  • hi everyone....

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  • so I take it you use the same fingering with grouping as you do for normal scale practice????

    Like 2
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