Group 1

Improve your Scales!

Scales are integral to your technique - all of music is built on them! They are singularly one of the most important things to master for piano playing!

Fellow Participants in Group 1:

Vidhya Bashyam

Ko

Michael

Andrea Buckland

Denise

hanqi4

Barbara Blakeslee

Sindre Skarelven

Jarkko Janhunen

Gail Starr

Harry Neuwirth

Peter Hirsch

Susan Rogers

Fides Cutiongco

Alistair Bertram

 

Some tonebase productions to get you started

"Creative Scale Practice" with Jarred Dunn

C Major Pattern Scales with Juliana Han

"Choreographing Scales" with Seymour Bernstein

"Scale Technique" with Penelope Roskell

How to get the most out of this course

  • Start by watching the introduction video and practice the exercises given in the video.
  • Write a post with your experiences with scales.
  • Start Practicing Czerny Op.599 no.61, and 69!
  • Share two videos per week and help your course partners through feedback on their submissions!

 

Zoom Check-In: Wednesday, June 29th at 11am PT!

199 replies

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    • Jarkko_Janhunen
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I've been pacticing Czerny No 69 & Chopin G-minor scale today.

    https://youtu.be/DNrTpyqDXfg

    https://youtu.be/39KOiVsOREU

      • Susan_Rogers
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Jarkko Janhunen nicely done!

    • Barbara_Blakeslee
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I haven't felt well this week -- have only done a little bit of practice, and haven't felt ready to record and post yet.  I am very sorry, because I really want to give this intensive the attention and investment of time it deserves.  I will make up for it during the coming week!

      • Andrea_Buckland
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Barbara Blakeslee no pressure, dear Barbara. Hope you feel better soon and looking forward to hear you play.

      • Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
      • Gail_Starr
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Barbara Blakeslee Feel better soon! Scales are not going away after next week. 👍😊

      • Barbara_Blakeslee
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Gail Starr Thank you so much.  I'm doing better and will start practicing again.  BTW...every time I see your name I can't help wondering whether you are related to Brenda Starr -- one of my childhood heroines, even though she was fictional and you are real!

      • Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
      • Gail_Starr
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Barbara Blakeslee I wish Barbara Starr WERE real! We need more heroines these days!

    • Dominic_Cheli
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I did some practicing on these! Found Czerny No.69 to be a little tricky!!

      • vbashyam
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Dominic Cheli Thanks for sharing these! Helpful to hear how it should be done. I agree that czerny 69 is tricky.

      • Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
      • Gail_Starr
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Dominic Cheli So awesome to hear your take on these.  Thanks!

      • Pianist, composer and piano teacher
      • Sindre_Skarelven
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Dominic Cheli These are are very enjoyable exercises! Thank you for sharing! 

    • Barbara_Blakeslee
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Yes, I find the Czerny tricky -- glad you do, too!  I also find it hard to do the scales the way you taught us (Russian method).  Every time I try it, I mess up my fingering.  I will have to try doing it ultra-slowly until I have it down.

    • vbashyam
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Czerny #61. Among the things I need to work on- steady rhythm, evenness, shape of hands (esp when playing fifth finger). Not sure I am maintaining the proper arm height above the keys. Nevertheless enjoying playing Czerny!

      • Andrea_Buckland
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Vidhya Bashyam sounds great, Vidhya!

      • vbashyam
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Andrea Buckland Thanks!

      • Susan_Rogers
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Vidhya Bashyam great job!

      • vbashyam
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Susan Rogers Thanks!

      • Pianist, composer and piano teacher
      • Sindre_Skarelven
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Vidhya Bashyam Well done! It's fun playing Czerny! 

      • vbashyam
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Sindre Skarelven Thanks!

      • Alistair_Bertram
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Vidhya Bashyam sounds lovely 😊 

      • vbashyam
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Alistair Bertram Thank you!

      • Have a growth mindset, no matter what!
      • Gail_Starr
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Vidhya Bashyam Awesome! 

       

      I have a bit of a suggestion, which I might not be able to explain in words though...Do you think you could NOT raise your pinky and, instead,  kind of have your hand/arm carry the scale up to the pinky?  (Does this suggestions make any sense?  If not, DM me on FB and we can do a quick video chat).  This MIGHT help it sound smoother?

      • vbashyam
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Gail Starr Thanks for the suggestion! I will give it a try and DM you for sure if I have questions.

    • Susan_Rogers
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I had fun playing the Czerny 61 trying to increase the tempo a bit each time. Kind of addicting! 

    https://youtube.com/shorts/9O_4dacuY8w?feature=share

      • vbashyam
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Susan Rogers Very nice! Agree that it was addicting!

      • Andrea_Buckland
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

       well done, Susan!

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