I think I should concentrate on actually getting them right. Seeing as my exam is tomorrow, I don't think I should worry about speed! But is there a set speed for grade 8? I'm a bit worried. If I fail the scales section, do you think I could pass overall?

Hi. if you are doing Gde 8, the examiner will be looking for speed as well as profinciency. Also, the speeds set in the scales books are minimum speeds, so you should be aiming to get a bit faster than the metronome mark given. If you get them right, then all well and good, but expect to get points docked if they are too slow. You could still pass if you fail the scales, but it would be a shame, and you would have to do well everywhere else to make up for the lost marks.

I'm surprised your tutor hasn't coached you on scale speeds. (Assuming he/she hasn't).

Good luck anyway

We haven't really done scales in the lessons.

I don't have a scale book. What is the minimum speed?

Thanks.

Which instrument?

Flute, the minimum speed expected for scales/7ths etc is crotchet = 132, and for arpeggios I think it's dotted crotchet = 76 (both assuming you are playing in quavers)

However I would imagine a little slow but accurate or broadly accurate would be preferable to fast and a total mess

How fast are your scales at the moment? My guess would be that as long as they're reasonably brisk then you should at least pass the section even if your mark is low if they are also accurate. If they're at a snail's pace then you will lose more marks though.

As your exam is tomorrow, it's a bit late to be worrying about getting them much faster I would think. If they are accurate at a slightly lower speed, or with only a few mistakes at a reasonable speed, then you probably won't fail or at least not fail too badly though you won't get great marks in that section either.

Yes, it's possible to pass even if you fail the scales, though the other parts of the exam will have to be good to make up for the loss of marks in the scale section.

I had a G3 student last term just get the pass mark - her scales were just about the right speed but she made mistakes in basically everything! And got 14. I think the examiner could tell that a good number of the mistakes were due to nerves, so she didn't fail the section. She got 116 overall so although it probably contributed to her not getting a merit which she was capable of, she had a clear pass.

Have you taught yourself the scales then?? How have you learnt them without a scales book??

Sorry to be so shocked but..

I'm not at home so do not have a scales book to hand. But the minimum speed for Gde 1 is 66 quaver beats per minute. I should imagine at Grade 8 it is approaching the mid 90's. I will confirm that for you this evening, if nobody else can in the meantime. I've had a look on the syllabus but it doesn't say.

Sorry...I'm assuming you are doing piano...I should have asked!

I'm pretty appalled that the teacher hasn't gone through them, but you don't need a scale book to learn scales surely??!


...yes it would be helpful to know which you're doing, MissJones - I'm assuming flute or trombone from your signature?

Have a look at the Gde 8 Piano syllabus!!!

My students have the books right from Gde 1. They are ideal for reading the notes as well as looking at fingering. And I can scribble reminders of speeds etc all over it. Eventually the books are done away with as they have to know them by heart for the exam.

I have to agree about it being a bit late to worry now...best of luck anyway. let us know how it goes.

Yup, flute.

132 isn't so bad as I was dreading! That's about the speed I was playing. I slip up from time to time. But I can racket through the majors at least at that speed. Minors are more evil. And Arpeggios need to speed up a bit. *sigh* But I THINK I'll be ok.

I started going through scales a few weeks ago. They're not my strong point and I generally avoid them. We only did C and B in lessons - they're the ones that go up high and I didn't know the fingerings.

I just teach them to myself by playing what sounds right... I've never used a scale book for anything (save trombone, sometimes.. which is a lot harder to play scales on in my opinion).

Diminished 7ths caused a bit of a problem until my brother kindly told me that they were the ones which started on the said note, and the Dominant 7ths were "in the key of ---" *rolls eyes* I got muddled.

Thanks VERY much. I'm a bit less worried. I think I can pass on everything else.. Aural is generally good for me but I need to go over the chord thingys which I absolutely hate... On the other hand I've only done one practice aural.. oh dear... I'm so ill prepared.

But again, thanks!

Try not to panic about anything. Just go in and give it your best. It's good to have some nerves, but don't panic!!

I have - maybe it's just me. There are a few things with scales that it helps to have a book for (and I do tend to use the books if I have them - not much point being able to play a scale if you have zero idea of how it appears on the page!) but I don't think it's that hard to go without...


Cool - sounds like you should pass or thereabouts then. Depends of course at least partly on what scales you get I guess!! 132 is the expected minimum, but on the other hand it is the stated minimum so they can't penalise you much for not being faster. Sounds like you'll be fine!


Word to the wise, scales are immensely useful and helpful on woodwind instruments. Worth the time spent to learn if you want to improve your playing. I didn't learn any scales for ages and always considered them a weak point, but spending the time to learn them (even if some of them are not as good as others ) has really improved my fluency on the flute both in playing generally and in sight-reading, they are excellent warm ups, technical exercises, and a great way of really getting to know your flute. So it is worth knuckling down and learning them even after your exam

this thread http://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?s=&s...st&p=159790 is full of helpful ideas on how to learn them


Good luck! You'll be OK. Just do your best and try to enjoy playing

I'll do my best to chill out...

They'd best ask me NICE scales. Haha.

Thanks guys. *huggles*

Hehehe. All the best - you'll be fine

*hugs*

Still don't need a scale book to learn them.

You can get a decent mark for scales if they are below the minimum speed, but not full marks. Secure is better than speedy.

Good luck with your Grade 8, MissJones.

Just got back from a flute lesson in which my scales were far from good! I think it was my nerves. Or maybe I can only do them when I have the circle of fifths in front of me. Hm. Ah well. I'll be practising them this evening. Apart from that, it'll be luck... I'm more concerned about missing my history lesson for the exam!


Thanks, andante! And sarah and daisy!

Hope it went well today!

Aw how sweet, you remembered me!

I think the exam in general was alright. I was happy with the pieces. A few slips in the Bach Partita corrente movt - I think that was because of nerves - but I hope I redeemed myself in the sarabande.

Aurals weren't bad... I stressed out majorly this morning when I asked my brother to teach me chord thingys and I got them all wrong, but in the exam I think I only got one wrong. I was hesitant, though,... and got a few wrong the first time but she let me have a second chance? So hopefully that wasn't too bad. Sounds a bit dodgy now I think about it. *Sigh* But the singing etc went well. I expect I'll get a mark as good as I can get considering that my teacher hadn't actually done ANY Aural work with me at all..... I had one session with my trombone teacher but that was it. Hence my stressfulness.

Scales! Wahey. About three I managed to do kinda up to speed. About three were slow! A few I started wrongly (e.g. doing harmonic minor instead of melodic)... but then I corrected myself so I hope that wasn't TOO bad... and also I kept forgetting to do whichever style she said e.g. staccato... legato... I kept remembering after I'd done an octave and changing. So.. Not brilliant, but could have been worse, methinks. I can't even remember the arpeggios. Scales are an ordeal I'd rather forget.

Sight-reading was slightly disappointing for me because I love sight-reading in general, and was expecting it to be really good (I hope I don't come across as being arrogant, I just love sight-reading, it's my strong-point) so... it was fine, I suppose, just wasn't perfect

Therefore overall,... I think I've passed... I HOPE I've passed!

Anyway. Thanks for helping me yesterday, and for asking! *huggles muchly*

Sounds great on the whole, Miss Jones. You'll pass for sure. Now just to see pass with what.

Now that we are on the subject of scales, can anyone tell me the minimum speed for Grade 6 violin scales and arpeggios? I can't seem to find where they write the speed of scales. I know I'm rather slow for Grade 6, but like Sarah says, better slow than garbled and messed up.

I think of the lot, my best subject is the aural test. I teach aural to my students all the time, so I get lots of practice at it.

Sounds like it went pretty well, MissJones

Ann - I don't think they give minimum speeds for strings unfortunately!

Well done, MissJones! Sounds like a pass to me too! Hope it's a good one!
xx

I don't really mind how well I pass as long as I pass! Anything else is just an added bonus. But I doubt I'll get more than a straight pass.

*huggles to all* I'll let you know when I get the result

Ann, I know absolutely nothing about violins... so can't help there, sorry!

Well done. It sounds like you've done well. Good luck with your result.

Ok Sarah, I guess I'll stick to my 70 crotchet beats per minute then

It's ok MissJones! I hope you get a disntinction though

Ha,... no honestly, I won't get a distinction. But thanks!

No result yet... just popping in with a similar question to the original ---- do you happen to know if the scales speed has to be the same for Trombone grade 8? It seems a bit unfair, having the slide movements, n all...

(Yes, it's official! I've finally started practising seriously (i.e. intending to carry on practising every day) for my trombone exam next term.. hahaha... I've been doing the grade 8 stuff for about three years now!)

G8 recommended minimum speed for Trombone is...120 crotchet bpm for scales, 60 dotted crotchet bpm for arpeggios.

Speeds for all grades/instruments can be found from pg32 onwards in These Music Exams

Thankyou!

I got my result! http://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?showtopic=25630

Excellent result! Well done you!

Thankyou.