Major & Minor Scales

Posted by Sir James Galway on August 05, 2005 at 04:33:43:

In Reply to: major and minor scales-for Sir James posted by Gina on July 31, 2005 at 10:54:53:

Dear Gina,

Every day I play my scales. I play the Moyse and Taffanel systems but with a different slant on the Moyse.

I do not play the C major scale starting on low C but on C two. The reason for this is that it is a much more secure note and with a good strong tone on C two you can bring the qualities of this note to the rest of your scale. In playing the C major scale I play it also starting on C three and descend to low B and back to C three. For this one you need a flute that really works. I then proceed to A minor following it by F major then D minor and so on.

When I have finished all this I do it all again in thirds.

Don’t forget that a little rallentando at the end of the scale makes it sound more like a piece of music.

In my next class in Lexington on the 13th of August I am going to give the students a demo on how I practice e the scales. It is not a question of plying what is on the paper in the books by Moyse and Taffanel. It is a question of playing with a smooth finger action, a beautiful tone all over the flute, always working toward a smooth and soft touch on the keys and breaking the scale down into little bits to get it to really sound its best. The little bits are the bits which constantly go wrong or where you do not feel comfortable, as in the lowest 5 notes of a scale or the highest 5 notes. You practise these over and over till they become second nature.

You can buy these scale methods at any good music shop or on line at Presser and Co. The sell the complete Taffanel and I think it is well worth the money.

I do not practice the scales higher than top B as I think it is difficult to get these notes to sound good and the amount of effort one has to put into these high notes is in my opinion, not worth the time you have spend doing it.

Best Wishes,
Sir James.
On tour, New York
Friday, August 5, 2005