Group 1

viola-scales-arpeggios-guide-v1

Mastering Scales

is an essential skill for any violists aiming to enhance their technical proficiency and musical expression. In this Two Week Intensive, Christian Kim will guide you through fundamental techniques and advanced practices to master scales with precision and fluidity!

Hands-on Learning:

Participants will engage in comprehensive practice sessions focusing on the execution of scales, improving accuracy, speed, and musicality.

Who Should Attend:

This course is designed for violists of all levels who wish to deepen their understanding and practice of scales and arpeggios, vital components of any musical repertoire.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, participants will have a thorough grasp of the techniques required for flawless scale execution, along with strategies for ongoing improvement through targeted exercises and etudes.

Join Us:

Embark on this transformative journey into the world of scales! This course offers a rich blend of practical exercises and real-world application, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.

Core Concepts:

  • Building a Strong Foundation: Learn the foundational techniques for playing scales with accuracy and ease.
  • Improving Intonation and Finger Placement: Develop precise intonation and finger placement for cleaner, more accurate playing.
  • Enhancing Speed and Agility: Increase your playing speed and finger agility through structured practice routines.

Timeline

Sign-Up: August 27th to September 3rd

Course Period: September 3rd to September 17th

Check-In via Zoom: September 12th

Livestream: September 18th

Assignment WEEK 1: 

  • record your progress on one, or multiple 2-octave scales
  • upload the video to YouTube (unlisted) and share the link in your group, or upload the video directly in this group
  • optional: incorporate bowing patterns and rhythmic patterns
  • mandatory: encourage your fellow participants with feedback :D

 

Zoom Check-In Recording

Week 2 Video

 

Assignment WEEK 2:

 

  • record your progress on one, or multiple 2-octave scales and feel free to incorporate 3-octave scales and arpeggios, if you are feeling that 2-octave scales are not challenging enough! :D
  • upload the video to YouTube (unlisted) and share the link in your group, or upload the video directly in this group
  • optional: incorporate bowing patterns and rhythmic patterns!
  • mandatory: encourage your fellow participants with feedback :D

Additional resources:

LEFT HAND FUNDAMENTALS on tonebase

 

GUIDE TO INTONATION with Richard O'Neill on tonebase

SHIFTING with Ettore Causa on tonebase

 

SHIFTING with Muriel Razavi on tonebase

50 replies

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    • Laura_McDermott
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Ok. I made a video. G Major. I find it very hard to track the pulse at the slow tempo. It is at 30 BPM. I did a lot of teaching and work today - definitely feel tired in my body. My shifting is stickier than normal. I have been working on keeping my fingers down as I usually don't. Maybe I will get another video made tomorrow. 

    https://youtu.be/A08dvPaZZfw

      • Lead of Viola at tonebase
      • Christian
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       Dear Laura!! Thank you so much for the submission!! I actually applaud you for taking a slower tempo, because that really gives us the time to focus on specifics, for example as you mentioned, shifting, and also helps with "settling in" with your instrument -> relaxing actively. Great job!! However of course, as soon as you feel a slower tempo is not challenging you anymore, it is always possible to speed it up gradually! But I much prefer starting on the slower side, rather than uncontrolled, or overwhelmed at a higher tempo! Looking forward to your next submission, Laura!!!

    • Lead of Viola at tonebase
    • Christian
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Zoom call is at 11am PT / 8pm CET today and it will be recorded and uploaded as video (private) here as well!! Invites going out to all of you individually! Looking forward to meet you!!!

    • Lead of Viola at tonebase
    • Christian
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Also, the video for the 2nd week of the TWI will go up tomorrow, I decided to wait after the Zoom check in to incorporate some of your requests into the next video! I know that most likely the Zoom time will not work for everybody, but looking forward to seeing some of you live! Great work so far everyone!!! 

    • Asa_NH
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Here's my video submission for Week 1: https://youtu.be/4ueWtdPSLfE
    I played 2 octaves on C & G Major, 50 BPM.

    The 32nd notes are still messy and I missed some bowings - yet with more practice and repititions I hope I can get on point soon. It's been fun and rewarding so far.

    I found it challenging to do scale practice with the metronome, as I haven't been disciplined enough to use it for a while. To reap the benefits, I think I would make sure it becomes a habit for now on.

    Here are some things I realized through this practice:

    • I became more conscious on how I allocate time and movement for each of my fingers, hands, and arms to reach certain notes in time. For example, making time to catch the notes using 4th finger, where I have to position my arms a certain way.
    • I get to observe the movement and feel of my bow better on legato notes, on different speeds, and learn how to distribute my bow better .
    • Playing 2 sets of scales without resting require more endurance on the viola for me (it's heavier, and I can't just rely on jaw and shoulders to hold the weight) so I had to lower my viola down a bit to relax my left arm in the middle playing, and then bring it back up once I regained my strength.

    Happy to be part of this :)

      • Amateur violist/violinist
      • Sonia_Lancaster
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       Great scales and great reflections too

      • Maurizio.1
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      @Come NH
      Buongiorno  Asa e complimenti per la tua pratica sulle due scale. Ascoltarti è stato un vero piacere!! Suono, ritmo e intonazione mi sono sembrati molto buoni.

    • Lead of Viola at tonebase
    • Christian
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Video for WEEK 2 is being uploaded and linked above, as well as a recording of the Zoom Check In (I do not know why the aspect ration of my camera is off haha) and I updated the links for resources in the tonebase library! Looking forward to week 2!! 

      • Maurizio.1
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       
      Esprimo qui il mio pensiero sul lavoro sulle scale a conclusione della prima settimana di corso…
      Durante la diretta su zoom ero troppo concentrato nel comprendere i vostri interventi per riuscire anche ad intervenire. Quando vi ascolto, capisco buona parte dei vostri dialoghi, ma per esprimermi in modo chiaro ho necessità di pensare in italiano, così preferisco mettere tutto in forma scritta.
      Questa prima parte di lavoro è stata per me stimolante ed emozionante: ormai da qualche anno ho ripreso a studiare da solo, aiutandomi con diversi metodi. Nel corso dell'estate ho utilizzato in particolare il testo del Maestro Danilo Rossi, prima viola del Teatro alla Scala di Milano per circa 40 anni, 24 GIORNI DI STUDIO VIOLA. Per ogni giornata, di un esercizio il maestro presenta anche un video in cui fornisce preziose e precise indicazioni tecniche di approccio. Grande!!
      Sono felice adesso di poter lavorare con un obiettivo definito (in questo caso le scale) e di poterlo fare avendo una comunità che sostiene la pratica di ciascuno.
      Lavorare così sta cambiando anche il mio approccio ai tempi di studio: prima pensavo che se non disponevo di almeno due ore non valeva nemmeno la pena di iniziare, ora invece anche in 30 minuti riesco ad organizzarmi ed a svolgere quotidianamente alcuni esercizi tecnici.
      In questa settimana, oltre al lavoro sulle scale, ho utilizzato alcune esercitazioni proposte dal fascicolo WARMUP GUIDE. Sto procedendo anche lavorando solo su un rigo al giorno e cercando di prestare attenzione a tutti i fondamentali: sto trovando importante questa pratica, anche in rapporto al rafforzamento del quarto dito.
      Al termine della settimana ho iniziato a leggere la scala di do maggiore a tre ottave: trovo molto interessante la diteggiatura che propone, soprattutto il passaggio di posizione discendente dalla quinta alla prima posizione con lo scambio fra primo e quarto dito: non avevo mai trovato questo tipo di passaggio e mi piace molto esercitarmi su di esso per cercare progressi sulla scioltezza del movimento e sull'intonazione. E' fantastico praticare così!!! Buon inizio di seconda settimana a tutti.
      Ringrazio Christian e tutta la comunità!!
      Maurizio

    • Amateur violist/violinist
    • Sonia_Lancaster
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    A little late putting this up... just a bit snowed under with all the music at the moment.

    I chose A major and Bb major for the 2 octave scales at 40 BPM. I tried to keep good technique and soft hands while doing these. Going forward I would like to improve my shifting and focus on increasing speed as well.

      • Maurizio.1
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       

      Bellissime scale!!! 

      Complimenti per la scelta e per la sicurezza nell'esecuzione. 

      • Diane_T
      • 3 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       wow great playing. 

      • Asa_NH
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       You sound beautiful! Thank you for sharing this with us, makes me want to try out these scales as well

    • Anneli_Ahlers
    • 3 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    I promised myself to post a video and I notice it is already the end of the week and I am definitely not ready for it!  So, here I go, warts an all!

    I'm still struggling to get the shifts in tune (my muscle memory is still very much violin oriented) and also to get to play with the metronome!!

    https://youtu.be/3q8cJLBfOew

      • Lead of Viola at tonebase
      • Christian
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       Dear Anneli!! Fantastic job!! As mentioned during the Zoom-Check in, we are definitely here also for submissions beyond this week, so please feel free to update us with new submissions! This goes for everyone here!! Thank you all so much for the diligent participation!! 

      • Anneli_Ahlers
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       Thanks a lot for the time you put into recording the videos for us and also the Zoom session.  I'm going to keep on working on my viola scale routine and hope to post a video showing some improvement in the future!

    • Maurizio.1
    • 2 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Complimenti Anneli!! Che bella scala e che bel suono!!

      • Anneli_Ahlers
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       you are very kind!  Thank you.  I still have a long way to get my three octave scales in tune on the viola.  It is still OK to do the D major starting on the C string, but if I start the G Major three octaves in third position, I struggle to get my arm around the instrument to reach in the third octave.  Things that go smoothly on the violin is quite a challenge on the viola!  I'll keep at it and hopefully it will get easier soon.

      • Amateur violist/violinist
      • Sonia_Lancaster
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       I also struggle with the reach around the bout when in higher positions. I’m considering getting another instrument, my current one has larger bouts and deeper to improve sound, but yes the reach is hard.

      • Anneli_Ahlers
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       I won't be able to get another viola at this stage - will have to try and make it work in the higher positions.  Luckily I still don't have any students playing much in the higher positions on the viola, so I have some time to improve my own playing before having to demonstrate to them when they do work on repertoire that require playing past the 5th position!

      • Asa_NH
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       you sound great Anneli! Thanks for giving those examples, I'm still on my way getting my 3 octave scales and arpeggios right. Moving around the instrument has also been a challenge for me, even with a relative smaller 15" viola (my height is 153cm).

      Finding postures that work for me is a journey on its own. Moreover, I have a crooked 4th finger (a mild case of clinodactyly), I've found some workarounds on the violin and exaggerate it even more on the viola due to its length. I also try to make sure I get enough stretches and rests before and in-between practices. I aim to play as comfortably as I can so I can enjoy the viola even more.

    • Maurizio.1
    • 2 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Buongiorno,
    ecco i video con la mia pratica per la seconda settimana di corso.
    Ripropongo le due scale a due ottave di do maggiore (video 1) e sol maggiore (video 2), leggermente aumentate di velocità: dai 40 della prima settimana, ai 50 della seconda.
    Come ultimo studio ho lavorato sulla scala di do maggiore a tre ottave.
    Ci sono imperfezioni, ma quelle sono lo stimolo per continuare a studiare e per definire nuovi obiettivi.
    Questa modalità di studio mi è piaciuta molto e gli ho  interamente dedicato l’ora che sono riuscito a ritagliarmi quotidianamente.
    Un grazie a Christian per la qualità della proposta e per il tempo che ha dedicato ai momenti live ed alla  visione attenta dei video.
    Grazie anche alla comunità: ho sentito piacevolmente il fermento di un gruppo che, nonostante le nostre grandi distanze, attraverso la rete ha potuto condividere il proprio impegno in vista di un obiettivo comune.
    Spero che presto possano esserci nuove iniziative di questo tipo.
    Saluti a tutti,
    Maurizio

      • Anneli_Ahlers
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       Thanks so much for all the recordings you made Maurizio!  You are working very hard at your scales - it is impressive that you have now scaled up your two octave scales from 40bpm to 50bpm.

      Great 3 octave scale at 40bpm - soon you'll be able to play that at 50bpm as well!

      • Asa_NH
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       wow thank you for the videos, I like your calmness and how you keep your left hand frame steady, it's a good example for me to work out when I practice my scales too

      • Maurizio.1
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       

      Grazie per il tuo messaggio, sei molto gentile. Alcuni maestri mi hanno insegnato a studiare le scale evitando di vibrare, in modo da controllare la caduta del dito e l'intonazione senza l'aiuto della correzione data dal vibrato. Un saluto e buona pratica. 

    • Maurizio.1
    • 2 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Grazie Anneli, sei molto gentile. Ti ringrazio anche per l'attenzione e per il tempo che hai dedicato alla visione della mia pratica. È per me molto stimolante questa modalità  collettiva di procedere e avere obiettivi di lavoro molto specifici. Un caro saluto e.... Ci rivediamo con i video per i prossimi corsi. Buona musica!!! 

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