Has anyone got any ideas about how to teach the double 3rd scales in Gr8 piano. I have an adult student who is struggling with lack of flexibility in fingers, and with getting a good legato.

I never had to do these before my ATCL which was seven years ago nearly now. They came quite naturally to me, as it was my best feature of the examination. (Aurals were my worst by far!) That's why I sympathise with those who struggle with scales. I found that quite a low wrist helps, together with quite exaggerated vertical finger movement and consistency of fingering. The following three things will perfect them: practice, more practice and yet more practice...

Hope it comes together for your student...

LR

PS. If fingers seem to be a bit stiff, try a finger exercise book such as Hanon (sp?). It really strengthens the fingers for overall technique.

LR

Brilliant! Love double thirds. It goes without saying, I guess, that you can't get perfect legato in both parts. I mean, in C major, for instance, on the third pair of notes in the R.H. (E & G) you have to hold on to the G with your little finger whilst letting go of the E with 3, and coming over with 1 & 2 to F & A , then letting go of the thumb on F, while holding with 2 on the A before striking the B & G with 1 & 3. And so on...... I hope this makes sense! Then, as you get better at it, you try and hold on as long as possible to the note you have to let go.
I think the exersise itself will develop the required flexibility in the hand, although with an adult this may take a little longer.
Steve

Oh, and of course, very slowly, and only one octave to start with.
S.

Is this the chromatic double 3rds? I use the alternative fingering - the one that involves the slide fingering from 2-3 to 2-4.

Or as my teacher puts it..... cling and glide.

Knew there was a more concise way of saying it!

The fingering in the AB books is not actually a legato fingering as I remember it, but a bit of a compromise - one of the paired notes can be linked to the next but not always both. If you want a true legato you will have to work out your own fingering.... Adults do find the moves difficult either way. The only hope is slow practice, you could try doing short sections at a time contining the troublesome moves.