Group 2
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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Hello Everyone! Looking forward to seeing your work on the assignments for this TWI!
Please post any questions/videos to help me assist in your development during these two weeks :)
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Hello, Group 2 and Dominic!
I’m excited to dive into practicing scales as a group. While I sometimes forget or overlook it in my daily routine, I recognize the importance of consistent practice. I’m committed to reintegrating scales into my regimen to enhance the speed and dexterity of my fingers. Thank you for the opportunity, and I’m excited to embark on this journey with you.i will work on Scale A flat major.
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Hae Young Kim This is great, let me know how this week goes!
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I posted on the wrong group earlier, so hello again, hehe! I’m a first time TWI joiner, and looking forward to try the grouping method for those tricky runs.
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Jessica McYorker You will LOVE these speedy TWI’s!
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Jessica McYorker Awesome, welcome!
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Hello all,
My name is Tony. While I have been writing on a piano for some time, I have put off theory and learning scales for too long. I'm excited to put in some time for consistent practice and learn more with you all.
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Anthony Cousins Let's do it!
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Checking in from Dublin, OH. I am returning to piano after many years away and my scales need practice, so this TWI is a perfect opportunity.
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Kathryn K Welcome, let's go!
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Hello Dominic and Group 2! I’m Nina Rogers and I’m in Augusta, GA. I love working on scales and try to focus on one major/harmonic minor pair each week. For this week and next week, I’m scheduled to focus on Gb/eb and Db/bb, so I’ll work on one of those for this TWI.
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Here is my "baseline" video, playing the scale in groupings of 2. Feedback is welcome! https://youtu.be/Zt_sTWlh7U8?si=HMqw-u-GpE9gGD4D
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Nina BR Nice work!
Notice the groups that you struggle with most of the scale, and isolate them! No need to play the scale every time through. I recommend going to hands separate, and trying to really focus that way!
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Hi! I'm Yukiko, and I'm from San Francisco Bay Area. Until now, I practice scales just as a warm up. (Up and down) With this challenge, I'd like to know more creative way of scale practicing.
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Yukiko Egawa yes, try the grouping practice! as outlined above
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I understand what Dominic wants us to practice, but I'm curious as to why he chooses to call this a 2-note grouping when there are 4 notes involved - maybe he means more like 2 intervals (even though the first one is 3). I understand that there are 2 notes in between the starting and stopping point, but why not just count it what it is - a 3-note grouping? I'm not quite following the logic.
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Anthony Cousins I wondered the same thing. It kind of makes sense if I’m thinking in terms of each start and end point rather than the individual notes.
Still, I have always thought of that as a “3-note grouping. I’m curious to see if thinking in terms of the different terminology helps change how I approach the exercise. I have a feeling it will …
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Nina BR Glad I'm not the only one. I really felt like I was missing something. Hopefully, the answer reveals itself in the next week or so.
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Anthony Cousins it's not 4 notes...it's 3 notes....Start on the C, and do D-E-stop on F, restart on G-A-Stop on B...etc etc...so it's 3 notes...two notes grooping...The 2 notes grooping it's the first and the second notes that you play, and you stop on the third note...and restart doing the 2 second notes and restop and the third, note..,,etc, etc...etc...So it's a groop of 2 notes....Hope that will help you!
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Aline Valade You're right - 4 notes are only played in the first grouping. "Stopping on the third" still means that you play that "third" note, making 3 notes. I definitely see what you're saying with the 2 groups of 2 notes and understand what the idea is. I'll take your word for it that this is the logic, but I don't know if I can be convinced that it's not odd haha.
Thank you for the help!
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Anthony Cousins Sure, I understand your confusion! I was always taught this way, as the starting and ending notes are sort of the "pillars" of the group, bookends. And the notes that actually improve our speed would be those middle notes (which can involve any number of notes: 2,3,4,5,6,7 sets of notes).
The essence of the speed comes from that middle set of notes, and if thinking about it as a very fast "rhythm" we would think about two really fast 64th notes for example and feel things in that manner. For most people thinking about groups of 3 notes imply triplets which is not the rhythm felt in this manner.
Regardless hopefully you can practice these different groups, and use whatever numbers make the most sense to you: the Speed and movement between the waypoints is the most important aspect!
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Hello group 2! My name is Amanda, & I'm returning to piano after many years, & trying to improve technique & progress. Finger evenness, especially on fast runs, is a challenge, so I think this scales practice will be very beneficial!
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Amanda Clark Sounds great! Looking forward to seeing your work!
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Hello from San Antonio Texas. I took piano for 10 years. I have not really practiced consistently for the last 50 years. I would like to:
1. Work on regaining finger strength and speed
2. Regain evenness in speed and sound
3. Learn the scales.
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Hector Wagner Great goals!
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