Dear all,

I have noticed that when the piano scales from all grades are collated, for most of them each type of scale is in 12 keys, e.g. contrary motion scales. However, 2 of the scales, which incidentally are only in grade 8 scale books, namely scales a 6th apart and also arpeggios 2nd inversion, are only given with 8 keys instead of the usual 12. Does this mean that only the 8 should be learnt or do the Associated Board assume that the pupil will learn the extra 4 keys at some other time for their complete development?

Shelton

QUOTE (shelton @ Mar 6 2005, 05:49 PM)

I have noticed that when the piano scales from all grades are collated, for most of them each type of scale is in 12 keys, e.g. contrary motion scales. However, 2 of the scales, which incidentally are only in grade 8 scale books, namely scales a 6th apart and also arpeggios 2nd inversion, are only given with 8 keys instead of the usual 12.

The scale books only contain the scales needed in the respective grades - the grade 8 scale book does not contain any scales which aren't on the grade 8 piano syllabus. Looking at it, one only has to learn scales in 8 keys - C, D, B, F#, F, Eb, Ab and Db - although majors and minors for both. Hence, the 6th apart scales and second inversion arpeggii are only listed in those keys.

I think the scale manual will contain them all as it's not restricted by grade - it also contains things like scales in octaves with hands separately, which I think might have been on grade 8 in the dim and distant past but aren't any longer.

The ones in the syllabus are the only ones you can be asked in the exam.
Whether you ever practice the missing 4 is up to you (and your teacher).
I would hope that by the time they are at this level that most people will have played scales/arpeggios in all keys though.

You don't NEED all keys at all at grade 8.

Imagine practicing 12 keys...legato staccato, major, h.minor, m.minor, 6th apart, 3rd apart, appegios, chromatic scales.......etc.

Wouldn't your hands be too tired to do your pieces? Oh...yeah...the scales are at a huge speed too.

If you had to do all 12 for Grade 8, it would take AGES to learn them all!
In Grade 7 you only had to do 6 though...
In Grade 5 you had to do all 12 but there are less types of scales, you only play legato etc.

QUOTE

If you had to do all 12 for Grade 8, it would take AGES to learn them all!

We had to learn them all before they changed the syllabus and perform the whole sonata instead of just the 1st mvt like you have to now for the B piece. Aaaaaannnnnddddd in grade 7 we had 4 pieces not 3.

Happy days!

Hopefully by grade 8 you have already learnt all scales (at least an octave apart).

And you don't have to prsctice them all every day.. split it into reasonable chunks.
I split the grade 8 scales into 4 equal parts. This way it takes me half an hour a day on scales/arpeggios.

QUOTE (sbhoa @ Mar 13 2005, 05:22 PM)

you don't have to prsctice them all every day.. split it into reasonable chunks. I split the grade 8 scales into 4 equal parts. This way it takes me half an hour a day on scales/arpeggios.

Yes, I have been thinking to split all the scales and appegios into chunks to make sure I cover everything in a week. I have designed my schedule of daily practice and would like your comments on that:

Day 1: Scales in keys of C and D
(1) One octave apart
(2) 3rd apart
(major + minor, harmonic and melodic)(legato + staccato)
Day 2: Scales in keys of B and F (as above)
Day 3: Scales in keys of F and Eb (as above)
Day 4: Scales in keys of Ab and Db (as above)
Day 5: Scales in 6th apart, all keys
(major + minor, harmonic and melodic)(legato + staccato)
Day 6: Appegios
(1) the common chords, in root position, 1st and 2nd inversionS
(2) dominant 7th chords + diminished 7th chords
Day 7: Scales in third in the keys of C and Bb major
Chromatic
(1) minor 3rd apart
(2) minor thirds on A# /C#

Sbhoa, would you mind sharing with us your way to split scales and appegios?

My scales rota for grade 8

Each day(only a slight exaggeration, honest!) I practice:

2 sets of scales and arpeggios (e.g. starting on C major/minor and D major/ minor) This includes 3rds, 6ths and arpeggios in all inversions and dominant 7ths.
I avoid doing related major/minor on the same day.

Chromatic in minor 3rds beginning on 3 different notes.
Diminished 7 arpeggios staring on the same 3 notes as chromatics.

I alternate C major and Bb major scales in 3rd (seperate hand ones)
Every day I play the chromatic 3rds seperate hands scale.

You could either choose your pairs/sets of starting notes purposely or by putting them in a box and drawing them by lot.
I made a card divided into 4 sections and use a paper clip to mark the one I am up to.
I also reverse the order of the day's work after each 4 day cycle.
This takes me around half an hour a day.

Of course this works best AFTER you have learnt them all.

sbhoa

Thanks, your scales rota seems better than mine. I may try out yours.

I have also recently begun, on alternate rotations to practice scales 2 octaves apart instead of 1 and a 10th instead of a third.

I was amazed how hard that was to do as I thought I knew them well.

Have you tried the book entitled "The Manual of Scales, Broken Chords and Appegios" (not 100% sure of the title) published by AB? I haven't looked at the book in details but I remember there are scales/appegios that are not included in graded exams.

Never really bothered much with scale books.
I do have an old one but even at the beginning it was more of a place to keep a record of which scales I had learnt than anything.