Today’s video covers the ABRSM’s grade 5 piano technique requirements. This includes scales and arpeggios. I’ll be playing with the metronome in this video at the required speeds, and will label each technique on the screen as I play them.

I’ve also done the RCM equivalent of thiside vo, which you can check out here.

For more information on these technical exercises, check out the ABRSM grade 5 syllabus.

You’ll need to learn either the harmonic OR melodic form of minor scales – it’s your choice. I’ll be playing both versions in this video.

You may be asked to play scales hands together OR separately. In this video, I’ll just be playing the hands together versions, but you’ll want to know how to do both.

Instead of playing every single chromatic scale, I’ll simply play the first few – they’re all pretty much the same, so you’ll get the idea.

For the contrary motion scales, you either learn the first group (F/Db/C# major and harmonic minor) or the second group (F#/Bb major and harmonic minor). For comprehension’s sake, I’ll play them all.

Grade 5 piano technique: Major Scales

All 12 major scales, hands together AND separate, 3 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

(C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G, Ab, A, Bb, B major scales)

Harmonic Minor Scales –OR-

All 12 harmonic minor scales, hands together AND separate, 3 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

(C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, Bb, B harmonic minor scales)

Melodic Minor Scales

All 12 melodic minor scales, hands together AND separate, 3 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

(C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, Bb, B melodic minor scales)

Contrary motion scales

Group 1:

F major contrary motion scale, hands beginning on the key-note (unison), 2 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

Db major contrary motion scale, hands beginning on the key-note (unison), 2 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

F harmonic minor contrary motion scale, hands beginning on the key-note (unison), 2 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

C# harmonic minor contrary motion scale, hands beginning on the key-note (unison), 2 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

Group 2:

F# major contrary motion scale, hands beginning on the key-note (unison), 2 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

Bb major contrary motion scale, hands beginning on the key-note (unison), 2 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

F# harmonic minor contrary motion scale, hands beginning on the key-note (unison), 2 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

Bb harmonic minor contrary motion scale, hands beginning on the key-note (unison), 2 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

Chromatic scales

Chromatic scale beginning on any note named by the examiner, hands together or separate, 3 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

Chromatic contrary motion scales

Chromatic contrary motion scale beginning on D, hands together or separate, 2 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

Chromatic contrary motion scale beginning on Ab, hands together or separate, 2 octaves, tempo 63 BPM half beats, played in 8th notes

Arpeggios, major

All 12 major arpeggios, hands together AND separate, 3 octaves, tempo 88 BPM, played in 8th notes

(C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G, Ab, A, Bb, B major arpeggios)

Arpeggios, minor

All 12 minor arpeggios, hands together AND separate, 3 octaves, tempo 88 BPM, played in 8th notes

(C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, Bb, B melodic minor scales)

Conclusion

And that’s all there is to it! Once you’ve learned these various technical requirements for grade 5, I recommend playing along with the video to make sure your tempo and notes are correct. Sometimes when I work on my technique I use the metronome, and sometimes I don’t – there’s no need to rely on it too heavily.

Enjoy! 🙂

xo,

Allysia

 

 

 

 

Posted in grade 5, Piano Technique