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Scales
Jun 22, 2006 23:14:30 GMT
Post by princessmoose on Jun 22, 2006 23:14:30 GMT
When preparing a pupil for the scale part of the exam, especially at higher grades when they start introducing melodics would you get them to learn melodics first or last? I'd say that getting all of the other scales out of the way first would help, but then could also see the pupil getting a little too relaxed over the melodics.
Any thoughts?
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Scales
Jun 23, 2006 11:36:59 GMT
Post by meepmeep on Jun 23, 2006 11:36:59 GMT
Too relaxed? Howso?
Just my two cents - the melodics are often viewed as hard/scary because they are (usually) new, so maybe introducing a couple of the easier ones might not be a bad plan. Depending on the student you could even start with the most difficult and work toward the easiest - hard work at first but the hardest scales will get the most practice, and the scale learning will always be becoming easier rather than starting easy and getting progressively scarier.
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Scales
Jun 23, 2006 12:28:47 GMT
Post by SuzyMac on Jun 23, 2006 12:28:47 GMT
I've only taught one pupil this far as yet. I introduced melodics the same way my teacher did with me, and it seems to work. At grade 5, they still have a choice (this is piano), so I introduced about 8 melodics here (the easy key sig ones, where the harmonic minor was already very safe). At grade six, I just had to introduce the remaining few. Not sure if it's the best way, I don't have enough experience yet
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Scales
Jun 23, 2006 12:40:49 GMT
Post by princessmoose on Jun 23, 2006 12:40:49 GMT
I've only taught one pupil this far as yet. I introduced melodics the same way my teacher did with me, and it seems to work. At grade 5, they still have a choice (this is piano), so I introduced about 8 melodics here (the easy key sig ones, where the harmonic minor was already very safe). At grade six, I just had to introduce the remaining few. I might try that, but what do you do if none of the harmonics are secure? A lot of the pupils are awful at scales, and can't remember them at all.
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Scales
Jun 23, 2006 13:03:57 GMT
Post by SuzyMac on Jun 23, 2006 13:03:57 GMT
I've only taught one pupil this far as yet. I introduced melodics the same way my teacher did with me, and it seems to work. At grade 5, they still have a choice (this is piano), so I introduced about 8 melodics here (the easy key sig ones, where the harmonic minor was already very safe). At grade six, I just had to introduce the remaining few. I might try that, but what do you do if none of the harmonics are secure? A lot of the pupils are awful at scales, and can't remember them at all. If all their scales are bad, they won't be working for grade 5! ;D I don't honestly know; my pupils all do scales as part of their normal lesson, and know I won't enter for an exam if they aren't going to pass that section. I tell them scales are free marks in an exam, and you can't get adistinction if you refuse to play them! All scales are therefore reasonably well played
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Scales
Jun 23, 2006 15:32:04 GMT
Post by princessmoose on Jun 23, 2006 15:32:04 GMT
Some of them have passed grade 5 with awful scales .
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Scales
Jun 23, 2006 20:15:23 GMT
Post by digby on Jun 23, 2006 20:15:23 GMT
I start with the melodics from grade 1, this way they get to understand the 'why' very early on and even the little ones are happy coming down in the major. This way I've found that when the harmonic is introduced for the contrary minors at grade 4 they find it quite easy to convert, and its never an issue on the G5 theory paper. I also think it's easier to go from melodics to harmonics than the other way round. I started doing it this way when I'd taken one too many students from another local teacher who had no idea how to work the scales out and just did it by rote having it all written down in full, and for little fingers doing Grade 2 B melodic minor is much more comfortable than the harmonic. I will admit I've written it out a couple of times over the years with students who just didn't get it in time for G1 but they understood it for G2. Another plus to TG exams, you can do the natural minor so I should never have to write it out again
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Scales
Jun 23, 2006 20:33:23 GMT
Post by petite joueuse on Jun 23, 2006 20:33:23 GMT
This probably isn't very helpful....but as a "learner" I really struggle to remember which one is which! I've even got through grade 8....playing the wrong one and then correcting myself!!!
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Scales
Jun 23, 2006 21:11:56 GMT
Post by Steve Hopwood on Jun 23, 2006 21:11:56 GMT
By the time most kids get to higher grades, they are older and more mature. This gives me the perfect excuse to give them the scale book and say, "Ok. You are old enough and mature enough to learn these without me breathing down your neck. Let me know if you have any problems." From time to time I check that they have not misread any of the instructions. That apart, I leave it to them. Steve
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Scales
Jun 24, 2006 15:47:25 GMT
Post by digby on Jun 24, 2006 15:47:25 GMT
By the time most kids get to higher grades, they are older and more mature. This gives me the perfect excuse to give them the scale book and say, "Ok. You are old enough and mature enough to learn these without me breathing down your neck. Let me know if you have any problems." From time to time I check that they have not misread any of the instructions. That apart, I leave it to them. Steve ;D ;D The problem with this is that the bit they misunderstand is to do them!
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Scales
Jun 24, 2006 16:59:57 GMT
Post by Steve Hopwood on Jun 24, 2006 16:59:57 GMT
By the time most kids get to higher grades, they are older and more mature. This gives me the perfect excuse to give them the scale book and say, "Ok. You are old enough and mature enough to learn these without me breathing down your neck. Let me know if you have any problems." From time to time I check that they have not misread any of the instructions. That apart, I leave it to them. Steve ;D ;D The problem with this is that the bit they misunderstand is to do them! Yes, my lot too ;D Still, I have: absolved myself of all responsibility; placed said responsibility firmly where it belongs; not got stressed up about the failure of my pupils to learn stupid numbers of scals (AB) or, latterly, more reasonable scale requirements (Trinity); haven't stressed up the kids; treated them as responsible, mature individuals; avoided unhappy lessons. Everybody is happy. Until the week before the exam. ;D That is when the kids start to stress. Me, I can keep on smiling because, "You can't have it both ways. You either behave with the mature responsibility you claim to possess or you don't. Either way, it is still you taking the exam, not me." And people think I am nice? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Steve
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Scales
Jun 24, 2006 17:34:37 GMT
Post by digby on Jun 24, 2006 17:34:37 GMT
Great stuff, ;D
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