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- Important Practice Rules (for Economy of Motion)
- Introduction to Major & Minor Scales
- Complete Guide to Major & Minor Scales (Volume 1) — Grades 1-4
- Complete Guide to Major & Minor Scales (Volume 2) — Grades 5-7
- Complete Guide to Major & Minor Scales (Volume 3) — Grades 8+
Introduction to Major & Minor Scales
The practice of scales has been the cornerstone of the pianist’s art since around the time of the early virtuoso period in early 1800s. Scales form the foundation of the melodic and harmonic elements of music. Without scales there would be no chords or arpeggios since these are derived from scales. The better one knows scales, the better one understands chords, cadences, arpeggios, and music theory in general. Moreover, the better one knows scales the better one’s sight-reading becomes.
Most piano students, and surprisingly, even many piano teachers have a limited knowledge of scales. It is all too common that piano students learn a few scales that begin on white keys (like C, G, D major) but scales that begin on black keys are ignored. It is also all too common that piano students never learn the three forms of minor scales in all keys (natural, harmonic, melodic) and never learn how to play scales in contrary motion or harmonize scales in thirds, sixths, and tenths. No wonder why sight-reading is almost always the weakest area for most pianists.
I am certain that my superior sight-reading skills and expertise in harmony, theory, and arranging-composition were the result of my practicing all the major and minor scales in my formative years. When I was 14-15, I had a strict teacher who made me play all the major and minor scales four octaves at fast tempi. Had I not learned this foundation, my sight-reading skills and my knowledge of harmony and theory today would be poor. If one desires to learn and improve as a pianist, then the practice and mastery of scales is mandatory. This does not imply the whipping off of four-octave scales up and down the keyboard at breakneck speeds, but all that is necessary for complete mastery of scales is playing them just two octaves at slow to moderate speeds in five variations (parallel and contrary motion, and in thirds, sixths, tenths). The piano student’s ultimate goal should be to be able to play any major or minor scale in any of the five variations at random. For example, how many piano students of Grade 4 or higher can actually sit down and play G-sharp melodic minor slowly in contrary motion with total confidence and with no errors? Ideally, the answer to this question should be “all piano students”.
Below is a summary of the three volumes in BachScholar’s series Complete Guide to Major & Minor Scales, which is guaranteed to help pianists boost their scale knowledge and playing to the highest possible level, regardless of age or current grade level. This system is designed especially for teachers and students at all levels.
Complete Guide to Major & Minor Scales, Volume 1 (53 pages), written especially for piano teachers and students, introduces the 24 major and minor scales to the beginning to intermediate level student (Grades 1-4). All scales are presented one octave in parallel and contrary motion and in parallel thirds, sixths, and tenths indicated with traditional fingerings. Students learn the essential theory concepts of key signatures (up to five sharps and six flats), relative major and minor keys, and harmonizing scales in thirds, sixths, and tenths. Volume 1 is accompanied with weekly lesson plans freely available to the public on The Well-Rounded Pianist website, hence, this is not merely a “scale book” but a “complete scale guide” with step-by-step instructions written especially for teachers and students. The manuscript is large, dark, and very easy to read, making this an indispensable guide for teachers’ studios and piano students at the beginning to intermediate levels.
| GRADE | OBJECTIVE |
| 1 (Beginning) | The 12 major scales played one octave in parallel and contrary motion; the three touches of staccato, legato, and non-legato introduced |
| 2 (Late Beginning) | The 12 minor scales (harmonic and melodic) played one octave in parallel and contrary motion |
| 3 (Early Intermediate) | The 12 major scales played one octave harmonized in thirds, sixths, and tenths |
| 4 (Intermediate) | The 12 minor scales (harmonic and melodic) played one octave harmonized in thirds, sixths, and tenths |
Complete Guide to Major & Minor Scales, Volume 2 (58 pages), written especially for piano teachers and students, continues the 24 major and minor scales learned in Volume 1. Volume 2, for upper intermediate to advanced level students (Grades 5-7), presents all scales two octaves in parallel and contrary motion and in parallel thirds, sixths, and tenths indicated with traditional fingerings. Also included is a section on multiple-octave scales in three and four octaves. Students learn the essential theory concepts of key signatures (all seven sharps and flats), parallel and relative major and minor keys, and harmonizing scales in thirds, sixths, and tenths. Volume 2 is accompanied with weekly lesson plans freely available to the public on The Well-Rounded Pianist website, hence, this is not merely a “scale book” but a “complete scale guide” with step-by-step instructions written especially for teachers and students. The manuscript is large, dark, and very easy to read, making this an indispensable guide for teachers’ studios and piano students at the upper intermediate to advanced levels.
| GRADE | OBJECTIVE |
| 5 (Upper Intermediate) | The 12 major and relative minor scales played two octaves in parallel and contrary motion |
| 6 (Advanced) | The 12 major and relative minor scales (harmonic and melodic) played two octaves in parallel thirds, sixths, tenths |
| 7 (Advanced) | Multiple-octave scales in three and four octaves presented in C major and minor in all variations, which can be transposed into other keys. |
Complete Guide to Major & Minor Scales, Volume 3 (75 pages), written especially for piano teachers and students, continues the 24 major and minor scales learned in Volume 2. Volume 3, for advanced to concert level students (Grades 8-11), presents all scales in double thirds and sixths one and two octaves in parallel and contrary motion indicated with practical fingerings derived from symmetrical, mirror relationships. Practicing major and minor scales in double thirds and sixths is the cornerstone of the highly esteemed “Russian Piano School,” which trains the pianist to play two notes at a time in each hand requiring strength and flexibility not possible with the practice of single-note scales. Volume 3 is accompanied with weekly lesson plans freely available to the public on The Well-Rounded Pianist website, hence, this is not merely a “scale book” but a “complete scale guide” with step-by-step instructions written especially for teachers and students. The manuscript is large, dark, and very easy to read, making this an indispensable guide for teachers’ studios and piano students at the advanced to concert levels. CLICK HERE to read BachScholar’s blog article on fingering double-note scales!
| GRADE | OBJECTIVE |
| 8 (Advanced) | The 12 major and parallel minor scales in double thirds played one octave in parallel and contrary motion |
| 9 (Advanced) | The 12 major and parallel minor scales (harmonic and melodic) in double sixths played one octave in parallel and contrary motion |
| 10 (Concert Level) | The 12 major and parallel minor scales (harmonic and melodic) in double thirds played two octaves in parallel and contrary motion |
| 11 (Concert Level) | The 12 major and parallel minor scales (harmonic and melodic) in double sixths played two octaves in parallel and contrary motion |