Hi everyone,

Wondered if anyone had any tips?

I've decided that, having done, and failed, grade 8 almost a decade ago, I'd like to try to get there again. So, having not had piano lessons for 7 years (but played lots), I'm going to enter myself for grade 7 (which I skipped going straight from 6 to 8 before) in the spring.

I think the pieces, sight reading, aural etc should be fine, but I'm really really struggling with the scales a 3rd apart. Playing them hands seperately is no problem, but I just can't get the fingering right at all hands together, can anyone help?

Thank you!!

I'm also working to do my Grade 7 after a very long time since passing my Grade 6. Any tips on learning all those minor scales??? I'm OK with the third apart ones apart from B minor. I don't know why and not sure if I can offer any tips in return I tend to just let my fingers move without thinking too much about it. I expect I'm doing the fingering all wrong but not going to worry about that now.

What worked for me was to focus my attention on the right hand - the left hand plays just like normal so it can take care of itself (assuming you know your scales). Not sure whether you have scales in 6th in G7 but similarly I found that focusing on the left hand worked well for me in that case. And practise sloooooowly, of course.

Pick just ONE of the scales you have to learn. If necessary write it out, with fingering shown.

Play it VERY SLOWLY, and VERY PRECISELY with exactly the right fingers, notes exactly together, no smudging.

Now do it again
and again
and again
...
maybe 20 or 30 times

Next day do it all again
...
and the next
...

Soon (2 or 3 days, a week, 2 weeks) it will become fluent, and the co-ordination will become automatic.

So ...

Pick another scale from the list ...

There are no tricks. It is just organization, patience, persistence, and determination.

Boy your life must be interesting...

I used to be a swimmer. Compared to swimming training ANYTHING is interesting. (I am short sighted so I couldn't even enjoy the 'scenery' in the pool )

Back on topic - this method works - and practised with full attention it is not boring at all.

You are absolutely right and thank you for pandering to my request

i'm working on grade 7 as well

yeah, absolutely, they're tough work to do, especially the minor ones
i just started c and d last week

i think mad_tom has said it all, i agree with him

have a look on the pieces! they're fab! especially b1, c1 and c2

good luck for learner driver and kh 123 for the preparation