This pupil is into her fourth year of study and plays the Chopin Waltz in A minor, and Beethoven’s “Fur Elise.” Here is a sample of our weekly warm-up routine using pentascales (five finger positions) in Major and minor, followed by a designated 4 octave scale built up from quarters, to 8ths, to triplets, to 16ths and 32nds (legato) She continues with a pair of Staccato 32nds Forte and then piano. (soft) These scales are played in parallel and contrary motion and I’ve recently introduced 10ths for D Major.
Arpeggios are also included in the warm-up but not featured in this video.
The sequence of scale study is a Circle of Fifths journey, with Major and relative minors assigned. With advanced students the warm-up is more comprehensive with scale playing in 3rds, 10ths, and 6ths; Diminished and Dominant 7th arpeggios practiced in parallel and contrary motion–as well as in 10ths– Broken four-note arpeggios are added to the romp.
Here’s the less complex warm-up with my adult student:
