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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The problem I always have with these Two week intensives is that I try to perfect the exercise before posting my progress - and since I never get it perfect, I never post! This time I have resolved to just show what I have. So here is my Chromatic scale in (slow) bursts. At least I finally wrapped my head around the fingering for the chromatic scale!
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Sam Smith This looks pretty good to me. I’m still on hands separately with the chromatic scale. I need to add it to my schedule as I am continuously forgetting to practice it!
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Sam Smith I like it. Good thought to apply chromatically. Thanks for sharing.
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Sam Smith that was really good. It is helpful to watch others, and learn from them. Thank you for posting.
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Sam Smith Sounding good so far! I would recommend waiting longer on the start notes and play much faster and lighter in the groups! Really try to drop your fingers into keys very quickly! Don't play loudly play softly!
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Separated the hands again. I used advice below. I think, it is better ascending, but descending needs improvement. The bass I still struggle with trying to relearn new fingering. I discovered during my first session my fingering was incorrect. Aging fingers must have changed without me realizing. Thus compensated for arthritis. I am using my videos to watch what I am doing. This is one of them. I appreciate comments, and trying to be brave in posting as this process is all new to me. Wanting to be perfect gets in my way. Thanking all in advance.
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Bernice vonSaleski Each time you post, there is improvement! Can't get much more perfect than that.
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Bernice vonSaleski All your work is paying off, you can clearly see improvement. Keep posting!
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Michelle R thank you for your encouragement.
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Nadja thank you. It helps to have others give a boost. This kind of practice is all new to me, but decided to push myself out there.
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Bernice vonSaleski Definitely getting better! Liking how you are waiting longer on the start notes to give better preparation for the faster notes!
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Hello.
Here is my first recording for grouping practice. I selected C and C minor.
I appreciate now the value of recording myself. I noticed the pinky in my right hand is kind of janking out as I come down in the scale. What is up with that? I also noticed that when I am doing the grouping exercise, coming down is trickier for me. A few times going so fast I ended up on the wrong finger. Will work the next few days to stick to the correct fingering.
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Josh Miller wow! It’s a fun and creative way of scale practice.
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Josh Miller Impressive. I like your creative practice. It takes it to another level. I like how you video your keyboard. Can you share how you did that? You are inspirational.
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Josh Miller nice work, and lots of fun!
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Bernice vonSaleski I do it with an overhead tripod. This is the one I selected, but there are many out there. I have attached my webcam to that. The nice thing about that is you can also attach a phone if that is your preference.
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Josh Miller Nice set-up, Josh! This is a great idea. I wonder if you could set up a screen in front of yourself at the piano so you could watch what your hands are doing in real-time? Hmmmm….
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Josh Miller This is fabulous. Thank you for sharing the information, and the picture is very helpful. Learning from others is such a privilege.
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Josh Miller Nice set-up! Your „jumps“ (3-1 and 4-1) are pretty fast.
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Josh Miller This is the right approach! Im liking the speed of the groups - keep pushing on them, play them faster, lighter, softer!
And really fun way to practice :) Need to steal that!!
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Today’s video. I think, it is better than when I first started. Descending is still challenging. Being cognizant of relearning the correct fingering. I played softer, and fingers closer to the keys.
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Bernice vonSaleski Getting better and better!
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Thank you Dominic for the week 2 posting. I have started using your suggestions. I find that these are helping as I go back to pieces. For the passage part I am posting Adagio by Tomaso-Albinoi 1671-1750) Remo Giazotto 1910. My goal is to be more relaxed when moving across the keyboard, and using less energy in movement.
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Bernice vonSaleski such melancholic beauty. First time I’ve listened the song, thank you for sharing:)
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Sachi thank you. It is a beautiful piece.
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