I can see from These Music Exams what the minimum tempos are, which are stated in crotchets but I gather played in quavers. I'm looking at Grade 2 piano, where the minimum tempo for arpeggios and broken chords is crotchet = 63 (quavers 126).

My question is not about the minimum tempo though but about the optimum tempo. At what tempo do you recommend your students to play arpeggios and broken chords in the exam in order to get a higher mark than the basic?

The 'optimum tempo' in my opinion is that which the player is comfortable with. Speed is not the most important feature of scale-playing. Of greater merit are evenness of tone and touch and , of course, accuracy of notes.

Also putting some musical shape into your scales and arps - once notes are secure and even, I ask my students to make a small crescendo upwards and diminuendo downwards. This gives a nice musical sound and a feeling of having arrived somewhere at the top before setting off back down again. Once notes are secure, speed is much easier to achieve. I find the biggest battles are fingering and evenness of touch!

I tell my pupils (especially little boys) the examiner will NOT be impressed by extra speed, but will be impressed by control, evenness of tone & touch, and smooth, even playing. And there have been plenty of full marks and good comments over the years to this effect. I haven't had an examiner comment on extra speed as a reason for good marks.

I practised my (oboe) scales at different speeds - including very slowly, and at >grade 8 speed. I got to the point where I could play them fluently at the minimum speed for the grade above, but I then actually played them at a speed midway between the two grades. This then felt a little slow but I was able to control them well at this speed and managed to maintain a controlled fluency and good tone with all articulations.

Thanks for all the responses. I've just posted in detail on the "Beginner Chit-chat" thread about where I'm at with scales, and my "secure" scales are smooth, secure, even and a good tone (I have my teacher's word on these!).

The reason for my question is that the minimum speeds set by the ABRSM seem very slow. I play my "secure" scales a lot faster than the minimum speed, not because I'm consciously trying to increase speed, but simply because I know them so well. I dare say the more practice I do, the more the speed will automatically increase without my trying. But at what point is enough, enough? If playing at X tempo is enough to get more than the basic mark, is it more profitable to leave those particular scales? I don't want to be "polishing stones" if I've already reached the optimum tempo for a good mark.

As far as arps go, I realised when I set the metronome that my "natural" speed for playing arps - the speed at which I have some momentum - is probably too fast and I've slowed myself down. I'm not yet secure on arps so I'm not trying to speed up consciously, but as with scales (and pieces!), you naturally speed up as you get more secure and confident. So I'd be interested to know what tempo would get more than the basic mark in the exam. Rest assured I know that quality is more important than quantity, but I'd just be interested to know!

I think for scales on the piano, the benefit for you when they are secure for an exam is it gives you a proper chance to warm up and get used to the feel of the piano (and being with the examiner!), and therefore a settling start to your exam. So to play them whatever speed you personally feel the best at, is the most important thing.

yes i agree that the some of the speeds seem a little slow! I did consciously slow down my easiest scales so that i could play all of them at the same speed regardless of articualation. For Grade 7 I did my scales at a speed midway between the Grade 7 and 8 speeds and I got full marks.

Thanks

I've had a lesson today and discussed tempo with my teacher as well. So between you all, I think I'm clearer now