Improving scales (piano)

[roisin]

Has anyone used the Paul Harris improving scales books?

Ds2 can play all his scales (gr4) accurately, but I think he could play them "more musically". However, he doesn't seem interested in improving them and just rattles through them. Any ideas?

Is this sight reading or scales books? Pianoworldforums mostly talks about the PH sight reading books,& says there are lots of scales in them.
Talked about very positively, anyway.

Not sight reading; he's used the PH books for sight reading, which had worked. They don't have scales in though.

scales book

sorry I'm no help, I can't find a single mention of them on piano world which makes me think you'll be hard-pressed to find trustworthy reviews anywhere... Amazon?

Ok, thanks

As long as they are accurate I think rattling through is perfectly acceptable.

I think you might have to accept accuracy is good enough for now unless he is a very mature DS!!
DS3 passed all his piano Grades 1-4 but by the time he got to 5 cared about the whole thing loads more and got distinction for that and for all the exams afterwards. I think it is a boy thing...

DC found practicing scales with different rhythms and accents very useful.
Usually start with 3-4 rhythms (this helps to get solid fingering), then different accents (every second note, every third note etc - this helps "weaker" fingers (like 4th) to make more even sound.
Staccato is not required until G7 but is really useful for practice.
Makes scales less boring as well .

He could try improvising with some keyboard harmony in one hand and the scale in the other - good practice for any musician.

This week his teacher suggested playing scales backwards - eg down then up - which is remarkably challenging!

Thanks for the input.