Hello all,

This may sound like a silly question - but I recently did a mock piano exam for another teacher's pupil who is taking grade 1 piano this session.

What I noticed was the right hand scales, in particular F major and A minor both started above middle C. The fingerings were correct and the right number of octaves were used but they started in a different position to the scale books.

Does this matter?

I always learnt them from the book so that is what I teach and I can't find anything in the regulations, etc. that answers my question. Can anyone help?

Thanks!

Bryony

I don't think it matters because tons of things are stipulated (hands one octave apart, broken chord patterns etc) and therefore if the ABRSM meant it to be compulsory to start on a specific note they would say so.

Like you, I teach as I learnt (by the book) but lots of my pupils start on different starting notes (they have enough problems remembering notes/fingering that it seems churlish to get picky about which A they started on) and no examiner has ever mentioned it.

I don't have them with me right this second, but I think if you check the very first page inside the new scale books it says something about it. Can't remember exactly how it's phrased, but the gist is that it doesn't matter which octave is used. (Though obviously at the higher grades you need to be more careful so you can fit the whole thing on the keyboard!)

I'm sure it doesn't matter at Grade 1. As long as they don't start way too high or low, that is!

In the scale books for 2009 onwards they actually state on the first page that you can start in any octave as long as the required range is covered. This statement wasn't there previously.....

I found it very difficult to remember which particular "G" (for example) was the starting note and my teacher looked into it for me. In my grade 1 exam last Easter I definitely played on different starting notes to the official scale book and wasn't marked down.

It doesn't matter where the scales start for grade 1, but I advise my pupils to do F, G Major and A Minor etc starting below middle C. This seems to be a more comfortable position for most players whereas starting above an octave tends to make it a bit awkward as they need to stretch more as they get to the top.

I'm not sure whether it was a question asked at one of the exam seminars last autumn, but I have a pencil note somewhere (just saw it the other day) that slightly lower is better. I've always understood that it's more comfortable if the pupil's arms don't cross the body too much (if that makes sense).

I know that nerves tend to make this the first thing to go wrong with scales. I think that if everything else is right, then it probably wouldn't be picked up on; however, if it does happen and they end up being shaky and uncomfortable because of the wider stretches then obviously that would, and should, effect the mark given.

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you but thanks for all the replies!!

The pupil in question seems quite comfortable playing the right hand scales starting above middle c and the scales are played very smoothly so I think so that she doesn't get confused between now and her exam, her teacher will leave her playing them in that position.