Hi
I have a question about the starting notes for scales, arpeggios and broken chords. I have an ABRSM book for grade 1. Do we have to follow the pitch of the starting notes for the arpeggios and broken chords in the book? or can we play at an octave higher or lower? If so does it affect the marks?

Thanks in Advance

I encourage my students to start at the pitch in the scale book. Having said that, I don't think it will affect the marks if a candidate starts too high or too low. Starting the left hand too high will make it more awkward for young candidates to reach though.

Which instrument?

Piano.

I think they don't want us to go much above where the dampers on the strings end, (about 2 1/4 octaves above middle C), as you can't tell whether you're playing legato, staccato, or what, up there. So we start from middle C (R.H.) for C, (L.H. down an octave), go up for D & E , then down an octave for F, G & A. 4 octaves is an octave lower, but I can' t really work out the starting point for 3 octave ones for G5, ( they don't work in 4s either). Anybody agree?
Steve.

I tell my pupils to start wherever is comfortable for them (and bearing in mind whether they are playing two, three or four octaves), and that has always seemed fine in the exams. I've certainly never had an examiner make any comment about the starting note of a scale!

That seems the best way Jo, its what I tend to do too, but when at grade 1 you look at what is in the book, with the exception of C major LH, for most people it is the most comfortable.

I think the examiners are far more interested in the accuracy, flow and articulation of the scale than which octave the candidate starts at.

I've always understood there to be no fixed pitch for starting scales. I encourage my Grade 1 pupils to start their right hand scales in front of their body so they will end to their right side. The left hand scales should start to the left of their body so they finish in front of the body. This sounds more complicated than it actually is!

Hi All

Thank you very much for your responses as always it is very much appreciated.


Many Thanks

Aya