Week 5 - Scale Week! The "V-W" System

Next week, as you know, we'll be playing scales. Our scales for the first half of the quarter are Eb, Ab and B, 2 octaves. Since this is the first time we're doing 2 octaves, you don't need to play at the tempo you were at last quarter. Go as slow as you need to with your metronome to keep it clean.

The fingering rules for black-key scales are what we call the "V-W" system. This means that you will use your first two fingers (2 and 3 in piano numbering) to play Db and Eb - making a "V", sort of like the Nixon Victory sign.

For the group of 3 black keys (Gb, Ab and Bb) you will use your first 3 fingers (2, 3 and 4 in piano numbering) which will look like a "W". The only challenge here is getting used to making the switch from the first to the second octave. Once you get comfortable with that, you're home free. You can do as many scales in a row as you like.