I have been studying the piano for two years now (51, adult learner). I took Grade 4 last June (Distinction) and am planning to take Grade 5 in June 09. Of course, I have already covered all the parallel motion scales and can play them quite fluently at a fairly good speed for my level (minim = 80 or so, instead of the 63 required). As for contrary motion, I have learnt both groups A and B of those required for Grade 5.
I practise all the scales every day and think I give enough attention to both types but am finding the contrary motion ones much harder to master. I have tried different techniques (eyes closed, miming right hand while actually playing LH to concentrate on the descending 'melody', etc.) and still have some trouble, especially with the tricky ones (C# minor, Bb minor, Eb minor, etc.). Can anyone give any explanation for this and also any advice on just how to go about 'perfecting' contrary motion in general?
Thanks folks!

Some of those contrary minors are really quite #@^%*@! Really slow practice - ie don't expect them to go as fast or as fluently as the similar motion ones or the easier contraries - yet.

Have you tried playing them with different rhythms?
eg 1) dotted crotchet - quaver then 2) quaver-dotted crotchet.

Once they are starting to feel fluent halve the note values and do the same thing.

i agree with maggiemay

usually i find contrary hard to manage evenness in both hands

good luck

No, I haven't tried the different rhythm patterns yet. This may be my next attempt. The point is that, as is usually the case with me, deep down I wonder if it is a matter of age or poor concentration or things like that. We adults are noted for having - or building up - these quirks

That's a great idea, cambiata - I've never come across this one, and will try it with my Grade 5 students asap. C# minor contrary is certainly a bit of a ..pain.
We've tried several strategies, including: starting from the outer edge and working in - 1 octave first; pausing on the key note( I like doing this with plenty of the other scales too) ;and playing in different rhythm patterns ( this has varying degrees of success). And also, some students are very used to watching their hands, which I don't mind at all in similar motion scales (though it's great practice to have a go with eyes shut too), but clearly becomes impossible once you get beyond the first octave of a contrary. Some students do try, with a sort of 'Wimbledon' effect. Better to try watching the LH only, and trust the RH to do its own thing..

Good luck.

Just to cheer you up, make sure you include C major. This is the one scale that is easier in contrary than in similar motion. I find C# major somewhat less fiendish than most.

Sadly C maj contrary doesn't seem to feature after Grade 1. Quite fun to practise it starting on different notes though, to get a change of sound. D and A are good - just with white keys, I mean. ( ie Dorian and Aeolian modes). It's easy to get rather too much of the C major sound scape in the early stages.

Db major cont is certainly a whole lot easier than C# harmonic.

It is far more likely that you do not fully realize quite how much time you spent on learning and practicing your scales in similar motion to get them to their present level of fluency. (And have not spent anywhere near the same time on contrary motion practice).

It is far more likely that you do not fully realize quite how much time you spent on learning and practicing your scales in similar motion to get them to their present level of fluency. (And have not spent anywhere near the same time on contrary motion practice).[/quote]

Very true! I think I actually neglected contrary motion in favour of parallel motion because I felt they were more "important" ... and the time spent in practising contrary motion probably amounts to about one 4th or one 5th of the time spent in learning/practising the others ... Very true!