Group 1
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!
- Course Period: May 13 - 25
- Class Size: ALL are welcome!
- Optional check-In via Zoom: May 22 at 11am PT
- ZOOM MEETING LINK:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87650346065?pwd=iNGsfHMSqMVopfHw3bnxalYfaDuwpe.1
Assignment #1
In this assignment Dominic discusses "grouping practice" for your scales. This is a great way to increase your speed, finger control and independence.
- Choose a scale to work on (could be C major, or a relevant scale from your repertoire)
- Let's work on "2 note groupings"
- Start slow, start hands separate, and increase to 4 octave scales with both hands together
- 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).
- Between each grouping, take as much time as you like, and focus on fast movements
- If a group poses trouble, stop and work on that specific part of the scale!
Assignment #2
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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Hi Group I Teammates, and Dominic, I am Bernice. I am between intermediate and very early advanced level, and like to play for my own self enjoyment. I like the Tonebase courses, and also use another online vendor to play along. I play scales off and on, but need a motivator to pick up speed up and smoothness with phrasing when doing a scale run in pieces.
I tried what Dominic suggested of going slow, hands separate, using C major, when I put my hands together I find that my left hand that my thumb wants to go under instead of using my 2nd finger on the F key. It is mirroring my right hand. Sigh! I decided to let my subconscious work on this for a day, and go back at it tomorrow. I am excited about having a community to share. -
Hello Group,
I am Nadja and I picked up piano again after a 17 year hiatus in April. When learning piano in my teens, scales were always only a way to warm up, so I was very negligent about them (an attitude I now know to be wrong ;). Right now I am trying to properly ālearnā them so this course is ideal, especially for the added accountability. I also have issues with tense ālockedā forearms when increasing speed that I hope to overcome. Looking forward to our group progress!
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Hi everyone! I learned all the major/minor scales some time ago, and play them on odd calendar days - because I am determined not to forget them! But I never really learned the chromatic scale - it was always so confusing. So I am going to attempt to apply Dominic's advice to the chromatic scale - wish me luck!
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Hello everyone. I'm Elena, I'm 57 and on the path called "I'm learning to play the piano," I've been going for about five years now. Even though that sounds like a long time, my progress isn't all that significantāif I compare myself to others. However, if I compare myself to my past self, the achievements seem quite excellent )). My biggest challenges, I think, are weak coordination when playing with both hands together, a lack of synchronization during "fast" playing, and clumsiness in the fingers of my left hand. Despite trying to dedicate time to practicing scales and arpeggios regulary, I still notice a tendency to put off this practice. I hope that participating in a group, even a virtual one, will help me stay in the flow.
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Hereās my first video - C# Major. I chose what I thought was an easier scale so I could get the feel of this new way of moving. I practiced a few minutes yesterday, mostly deciding which scale to use and then a few minutes today before this recording so itās pretty close to baseline. Iām challenged on the decscending sprints and anywhere the thumb is involved. My thoughts are to slow down a bit, and work more intently on the (many) areas where I feel like Iām all thumbs! Thanks!