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I work two keys and their relative minors every day in a six-day practice week with the following pattern:
Scale in triplets for three octaves
Scale in quadruplets in four octaves
Russian scale
I repeat the same pattern but in tenths, then sixths, then thirds.
I move to arpeggios - straight and Russian, then the same in tenths, sixths, and thirds.
I move next to seventh chord arpeggios - major, dominant for major scales, or minor, half-diminished, and diminished for minor. Again, both straight and Russian, however not in tenths, sixths, or thirds.
I finish with octave scales for two octaves - straight and Russian in tenths, sixths, and thirds. I do these in chord octaves and broken octaves.
I鈥檒l break all these up with variations - legato, staccato, crescendo, etc., or focus on something in particular - high fourth finger, or a specific tone quality.
This is how I start my morning before work, and it generally takes about 20 minutes. Repertoire happens at night after dinner.
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DJ Summers what is a Russian scale?
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Alexander Weymann
A Russian scale is a scale pattern of both parallel and contrary motion.
https://youtu.be/yFX1TaOiFC4?si=R8hA6maO3hhSbgJ8 -
DJ Summers I see! Thank you.
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I find the replies awe- inspiring if somewhat daunting. I'm not sure if there's anyone out there on my level. My last piano lesson was 52 years ago and oh how I wish I'd kept it up. I'm learning a lot from Tonebase but have to accept that my hands are never going to be as agile as they once were. I play scales (2 octaves) , arpeggios, broken chords and chromatic scales, also scales in contrary motion sometimes, then octaves & usually in that order. Thanks to Tonebase, I have been introduced to Hanon and Berens Training of the Left Hand. After that I play the Promenade from Pictures at an Exhibition. I've got small hands and that piece really spreads my fingers out - plus I just like to play it very loudly. Just as well I live in a detached house!
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I use varous Czerny books and play 4 octaves scales (major and harmonic minor). Occasionally, I'll mix it up by playing a one octave scales in all keys in one hand (8th notes) while playing the same scales but in 2 octaves in 16th notes or triplets. I found Tonebase's lesson on scales (Jarred Dunn) extremely helpful. I used to play Hanon exercises but didn't find it applicable to music I was playing. However, I disoceverd that playing Bach's Two Part Inventions helped to achieve the same independent hand results - so now the inventions are part of my technical exercises.
