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.-
Sedef CANKOCAK thank you. I just watched your recommendation. This really helps. I have gotten better, but after watching her, and tried her explanation it makes sense. Success. Have a wonderful day.
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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 „learn“ them so this course is ideal, especially for the added accountability. I also have issues with tense „locked“ forearms when increasing speed that I hope to overcome. Looking forward to our group progress!
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Nadja oh yeah, I will be working on c-minor, because that is the key of the piece I am playing right now. In the first try I noticed that adding harmonic and melodic is a bit of a challenge, but maybe that‘s a good thing.
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Nadja That is a good thing! harmonic minor scales are really valuable as are melodic minor.
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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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Sam Smith I like your idea about playing the scales on odd calendar days. Thanks for the idea.
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Bernice vonSaleski On even calendar days, I play arpeggios! I end up playing the scales 2 days in a row at the end of 31 day months, but it is all good!
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Sam Smith Excellent! Chromatic scales are tricky - great to practice them!
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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 significant—if 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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Hi! Elena_Ms I turned 56 this year. Your story has resonance in me:) I’m so grateful for the life I live now, being given opportunities to pursue my piano dream.
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Elena_Ms This is great that you are looking to challenge yourself! And so happy that you are progressing vs. your past self!
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Here’s 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 it’s pretty close to baseline. I’m 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 I’m all thumbs! Thanks!
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Here’s a video from today. My teacher asked, “ How’s that TWI with Dominic going?”, so I figured I should make a progress video. I noticed the DIP joint in 4th finger, LH collapsing. Everything seems smoother than yesterday, but I’m forgetting the lift/release between the groupings that my teacher has suggested.
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Michelle R Well done and good coordination!
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Nadja Thank you! I really need help with playing faster, so am hopeful this will propel me forward a bit.
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Michelle R lots of progress. Watching you is helping me to change old habits. Thank you.
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Bernice vonSaleski Thanks, Bernice! I’m just a baby pianist and have so much to learn.
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Michelle R thanks for sharing your practice. I am curious if in your left hand you are starting with your 3rd finger or your 5th. As the scale starts it goes from 5 to 2. (No thumb yet).
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Josh Miller Thanks for watching, Josh. LH is starting with 3rd finger on C#.
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Michelle R ah yes, thanks. I am silly, I had the fingering wrong in my head. Even though you clearly state you are in C# I was thinking C. I just tried playing C# my left hand is wonky too. When you say lift release, you mean between each grouping?
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Josh Miller no worries! C Major caused my thumb to hurt, so I went to a scale that fit better under my hand and gave my thumb a little more room.
Yes, lift release between each grouping. -
As I’ve thought about this grouping practice, and watched others, I am reminded of something my teacher has told me many, many times (especially when doing technique work): begin from a place of motion. I tend to stop, think, go - this can create tension (for me). So I’ll practice with more intentional movement, kind of like slow motion rendering of what my hands would do if moving more quickly, between the groupings and see how that goes. Hopefully I can record again later today.
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Michelle R Good work so far!
I like how you work on the groups that you struggle with more - very good to isolate. Wait longer on starting note as though you are about to dive into the notes! Look before you leap and try to sprint to the next note!
But I am hearing great progress!
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Michelle R I would suggest playing the fast notes much lighter and softer! this will aid in the speed!
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Dominic Cheli Thanks for the feedback, Dominic! I haven’t practiced this in about a week - I didn’t want to be potentially practicing the same wrong thing - so I’ll look back at it this week. Thanks again!
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