Fitting Scale Method

October 20, 2016 at 03:43 PM · Hi Alexander,

I recommend that you purchase a Hrimaly scale book as it is inexpensive and likely just what you need. This book is much simpler to use than Flesch or Galamian scale books and possibly you could figure out a lot of the scales by just doing it. I do think it a little bit odd that you have a violin teacher but she is avoiding teaching you to practice your scales. Glad to hear that you are motivated to learn these without being prodded by your teacher. Let us know how you are doing please!

October 20, 2016 at 04:06 PM · Simon Fischer's scale book is excellent. He explains a comprehensive method for practicing scales, starting with one octave and building up to three. If you don't know how to practice scales, after going through the whole book on just one key, you'll know how=)

October 20, 2016 at 04:11 PM · I don't know where you live, and whether you can look for another teacher, but I wonder if there are really any successful teachers that wouldn't have started systematically teaching scales at this point in your playing. Maybe your teacher has some alternative way, but if your teacher knows they are important, but doesn't teach them sounds a little strange. If I were you, I would at least ask your teacher to start teaching you scales, and if your teacher doesn't follow through, I would look elsewhere.

Now, if that isn't available, the Hrimaly is probably pretty simple. Simon Fischer's book is pretty packed with stuff, and can at least give you some ideas for tackling scales on your own, like how to tune your scales (which is really important), and building up from one octave to tougher scales, and including shifting.

October 20, 2016 at 05:05 PM · Hello, thank you very much for sacrificing some time of your day to help me. I'm very happy to hear that there is just one book i have to follow through. I have ordered that book by J. Hrimaly that's right isn't it and will beginn going through it one by one and maybe i will ask here if i'm getting problems.

She's my only choice unfortunately as a teacher. She's one of four teachers and the only one who works ok with special need persons so i have to stay until i can maybe keep going on my own (doubtful).

I can't buy two books at the time but maybe i'll buy simon fischer's book later. Thank you.

October 20, 2016 at 05:44 PM · Alexander, I just looked on YouTube and there are two short videos for you to watch on Hrimaly C scales which should help you a lot as you can see her hand position for the high C on the E string which is a question you had initially asked about. I think that watching other scale videos will benefit you if you are teaching yourself.

October 20, 2016 at 05:51 PM · I would reccomend the Essential Elements series: Essential Technique for Strings (bk. 3, 2-octave scales) and Advanced Technique for strings (bk. 4, 3 octave scales). These are probably the best for teaching yourself (they offer a lot of explanation about shifting/finger patterns) and I usually use these with my students. Another option is Barbara Barber's Scales for Young Violinists (2-ocatve scales) and later Scales for Advanced Violinists (3-octave scales). I think that the Hrimaly tends to look overwhelming, whereas Essential Technique and Scales for Young Violinists are a little more straightforward (spacing and print quality is also better).

October 20, 2016 at 06:11 PM · Hello Jeff is the video by a woman named Sal Peralta. If yes, than i have looked at it. I like how she shifts the whole hand up a semitone. I may be trying this tomorrow it is late here. And Ingrid Popp i've addded scales for young violinist to my to-buy list it looks nice and the easier and gradual it is the better. i love good systems and methods. it feels nice to follow one and not beeing all over the place

October 20, 2016 at 07:30 PM · A few ideas, besides Simon Fischer:

First-position scales: Elementary Scales and Bowings by Whistler -- I like that this has some very basic diagrams, which helps with finger placements for various keys.

For intermediate scales: Barbara Barber: find several of her scale books here.

For three-octave scales: Galamian Scales - that is a link to my blog that explains those.

October 21, 2016 at 04:19 PM · To answer your question simply you should be able to do the C major scale in first position and extend the 4th finger for the C and also starting with the 1st finger on the g string and playing the scale in 3rd position. Scales should be practiced and played in all positions and all bowings, and all keys. Starting a scale with a different fingering will give you more flexibility to play passages in different ways and find fingerings that work for you and the music. In addition a good scale book like "Hrimaly or Galamian, or Flesch or Simon Fischer, or any of the other scale books already mentioned is an important tool in learning scales and learning the violin. I also suggest you ask your teacher which scale method would be best for you.

October 21, 2016 at 08:38 PM · Lots of recommendations for scale books here. But I'll take a different angle. When you learned scales on the piano, what was important? Did your teacher tell you to make sure your fingers land exactly in the center of every key? Mine did. To make sure your thumbs turn under smoothly, comfortably, with no unnecessary movement in your elbows? Clean legato with no pedal? Completely even dynamically? Playable in all rhythms? Building speed gradually?

With the violin there is also a "short list" of stuff that you really want to accomplish -- smooth, effortless string changes. And obviously perfect intonation and seamless shifts. Etc.

So the way you learned on piano -- and how you learned to practice those things so that you achieved those goals -- will be at least partly transferrable to the violin. My childhood violin teacher taught me to love the violin. My piano teachers taught me how to practice.

October 22, 2016 at 08:38 AM · Hello Paul Deck,

again, my piano teacher can't play scales. He never learned them but I've seen him play Chopin Etudes and Beethoven Sonatas. I asked him almost from the start how to play scales because from what i've read, they seemed important.

So i secretly importet a scale book from the UK about 2 years ago and started on my own. I personally want scales to be organic if that makes sense to you and fluent but not purely automatic. No tension everywhere etc, no slips from black keys with 4 or 3 and stuff that you just sad as well.

If i had to pinpoint out one single thing that helped me the most i'd say scales even in this relatively short amount of time (the second would be wiener klassik repertoire i.e mozart and easy beethoven sonatas). They made me much faster and more even between the hands. Also they increased my knowledge of keyboard topography i.e going very high up and very low down and how your body has to accostume that.

Because of that i'm interested in learning scales for the violin as well and yes i hope i will be able to transfer some of my knowledge thank you!

November 21, 2016 at 06:10 PM · I now own the books by Hrimaly and Barber and brought them to my teacher a few weeks ago. She was intrigued that I wanted to learn scales and we started following the method by Barber and she checks my progress at every lesson. I'm very happy to have mustered up the courage to ask her for help and it was thanks to you.

And because in the Barber book 2nd position is indicated for c major, we started 2nd position which makes me happy as well. We'll see what the future holds.

November 22, 2016 at 02:06 AM · It is good to hear back from you Alexander and that you are finally working diligently on your scales with your teachers help. Now you can impress us with playing your three octave virtuosic scales up and down the fingerboard like Mr.Heifitz. : )

November 22, 2016 at 01:36 PM · C major is a good scale to start with because it does not go frightfully high (3-octave), but it follows the uniform fingerings that exclude open strings. I believe B major does too, but B majors doesn't have as many juicy ring tones as C major. I agree with Jeff though, so you better get working on your fingered tenths. LOL