![]() In contrast to pianists, the first scale for Suzuki violin students is A major, which – along with D and G major – is one of the natural keys of the violin. The circle of fifths was under our fingers (and noses) all along! I remember the moment of epiphany when the architecture of the diatonic key system appeared before me in radiant visual simplicity on the violin fingerboard in the perfect fifths between the strings. In a way, each note ‘elects’ the next in the chain of fifths, creating the 7 golden steps we know so well, and the 12 tones of the chromatic scale.įifths have a special resonance for string players, if you’ll pardon the pun. The diatonic major scale arises from the deep natural harmonic structure of sound (vibrations) described by the circle of fifths. Despite my ambivalence towards exams, I learned to appreciate the musical beauty in scales, and retained the same sense when I took up the violin. They were an inseparable element of the music examination system in which I was obliged to participate. ![]() ![]() His words contained a truth, but there’s another side to the story.Īt least half of my own practice sessions as a young child at the piano consisted of scales, as indeed did my lessons. When the subject of scales arose in a music curriculum meeting I was attending, a university professor known for his strong views commented, “ I’ve never yet seen scales played at a concert.” He was making a forceful point against the robotic playing of scales and exercises. Photo courtesy of Dominik QN For the Love of Scales
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