piano grade 1 scales -how fast?

[AChickenCalledKorma]

DD1 is doing grade 1 piano. She seems to have it all under her belt, although her scales seem a bit slow to me. Not laboured - just a bit "safe". But maybe safe is the way to go lol.

Any music teachers able to advise?

Approximately 2 notes per second.

That is incorrect as the ABRSM states 60 beats per minute so one per second.

the ABRSM book gives minimum suggested speed of 60 crotchets per minute. If the scales book actually has the scales notated in quavers, then that's 2 per second.

I've been told that the minimum speed isn't enough to get really high marks, and that faster is better if done well, but safe/accurate/slow is better that fast/inaccurate/uneven.

Duh! Didn't even think of looking in the book! Thanks MorningPurples - that's really helpful re the balance between speed and accuracy/evenness.

You can find specimen videos on Utube which shows you how they are supposed to do scales, sight reading, etc. for each grade, Trinity or ABSRM. You can actually see what a "pass" would hear/look like. Very useful!!

Thanks ragged - that's really useful. Would never have thought of looking for videos - I guess it's all bit less mysterious than it was when I sat grade 1 30 years ago!

Fabulous username Chicken!!!

:-) I'm not sure whether the chicken in question agrees!

About 2 a second is about right. Any slower and they will not flow properly. The crotchet=60 is correct, but they are quavers, so it is 2 notes to a beat.

It is best to be even and flowing, don't worry too much about the speed, but make sure it flows nicely, and every note is evenly played - both in rhythm, and in touch.

Yes, I knew was right.
Apologies accepted colleger!

And sensible advice from Morning and Lily. I think heading towards crotchet = 80-90 is a good, flowing speed if they can manage it accurately. Oh, and make sure every scale is a similar speed - don't let them speed up on the ones they find easy. Keep it consistent.

I pointed out to her only yesterday that it was a dead giveaway if C major was three times the speed of D minor!

You might find this a useful link - the assessment criteria for scales;
Link here

Mark

All grades

19?21

* Quick response
* Fluent and musically presented
* Confident and even tempo

17?18

* Prompt response
* Well prepared
* Technically mostly secure and even
* Few small slips or corrections

14?16

* Cautious response
* Moderate tempo
* Keys known, despite some errors
* Momentum generally maintained

11?13

Below Pass standard

* Poor response
* Slow and inconsistent tempo
* Frequent errors
* Some incomplete items

7?10

* Very poor or incomplete response
* Extremely sporadic and uneven playing
* Very slow tempo
* Technically inadequate

* No work offered

Thanks LilyBolero. On that basis, I'd say she's currently a secure merit, as long as she doesn't go to pieces on the day.

(Chicken tries to forget about all the times she, herself, went to pieces on the day ......)

ds2's teacher said it is easier to get distinction on scales by playing them slower and more musically, than as fast as possible. (He likes as fast as possible!)

Dd plays them too fast for my liking so I make her practise with the metronome - 2 a second as said above. I guess she'll go faster in the actual exam though as she's raring to the whole time.

Her piano teacher is hot on "shaping" scales and making the lat note twice as long as the others.

I am so bored of grade 1 now. Dd ought to have taken it last term and if she doesn't get a distinction now I'm going to scream. (kidding of course, I just think I'll go mad I hear A Story From Long Ago one more time).

I think we all get that before an exam. ds2 is doing grade 4 this time and has done a lot of work this half term on polishing things up.

I can't believe he's not bored of it; because I'm pig sick!