Piano for leisure, grade 7 scales

[V2012]

Hi everyone,
I'm a newbie to this website and so happy to have bump to it when this website is only in discussion for music!

I'm a grade 7 piano player, studying for leisure and got my exam that is less than two weeks time. My practical pieces is on the stage of 'very happy chappyness, yay!' where as my scales as I noticed when I practise, my fingers always slip.

So, here's what I tried to stop my fingers from slipping on the keyboard -
Dotted note on every first note, apparently this way helps the student to get more controlled of the note.

If you have ANY suggestion at how else I could practise for scales, I'm all ears!

[Malcolm]

Welcome. My fingers do not slip so can not help with your specific problem, no idea why they do not, or what I'm doing "right".

Perhaps someone else can help.

Welcome.

[Color of Music]

Welcome. My fingers do not slip so can not help with your specific problem, no idea why they do not, or what I'm doing "right".

Perhaps someone else can help.

Welcome.

Proper fingerings, you mean. (This is to the OP)

I've seen some videos on YT regarding proper fingering for scales.

From what I've being seeing and hear is "the thumb going over then under."

Start on C playing up to F, then tuck your thumb under to grab the G then, then the rest of the fingers until you reach the octave C.

Note, you must tuck your thumb in preparation (on the F, but don't touch the note).

Here's a video explaining it; however, he makes the point to not think in absolutes. (My tip is not absolute; I'm going from what I've seen and heard) Yet, do be mindful of the guidelines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTM2mdzhYN0

This technique is useful as it forces your fingers to anticipate where to go. I watch another video talking about dealing with large skips - strides (ie: in Joplin tunes)

Play the bass notes, but immediately move your hand to play the chord, but wait to play it. The video uses a famous tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIVHNhvMGhQ (He also uses the Joplin example)

Both videos as well as others are teaching about efficiency, That is the key - not what to do because every teacher has a different method.

I hope this helps. If the exam is looking for absolutes, than nothing you can do about that. To this, I say, still go for what you think is the most efficient.

An additional note:

This goes beyond fingering single notes, but when playing chords (in close position) pianists/keyboardists will implore the use of inversions. This is also nothing more than efficiency as you do not want to be jumping around the piano/keyboard because it affects the music greatly unless that is the effect to want. This is how the music will sound and your hands will pay for it if you move them too much and this won't sit well with listeners (including you)

Granted, with the above video, sometimes leaps are required; however, if they aren't try to avoid doing this.

I can't help with the slipping either unless you're not playing properly or the piano is just slippery (that's possible, too)

Here's another emphasizing the using the whole body technique. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_LdrP0c1A Now, I don't know if you've had lectures on correct posture and what each limb should do at the piano - nonetheless, this is also not-in-stone because every teacher's method is different.

As with the above videos, it's all about efficiency.

I may have complicated the issue, but I'm wondering if you're slipping because you're playing too fast?

That is an obvious problem - no matter what skill level. Fast =/= Good - if you make this out to be a contest.

Chopin's Minute Waltz - even if you can play it fast - how'd you do it? By practicing slowly. This isn't to say that mistakes may not be made, but it takes more effort to get it right by playing slow than to get it wrong by playing fast.

Playing slow helps with muscle memory with this you can enact the "preparation" technique and by the time you can play at tempo your fingers will know where to go before you do! This is useful in not just Classical piano, but popular and jazz/latin piano as well. (Improvisation)

Slow down, so everything else can catch up and you will not slip or at least slip alot less.

Note: I don't play piano (at least I don't prefer to) nor do I each piano (I don't prefer to do this either); however, I will help if I can.