Staggered start! Start right or left hand (in quavers/eighth notes) and come in a beat later with the other hand!

A great way to stress-test your scale fingering (and wake your brain up!)

Dwell on the sample octave in the first (C) video. Exaggerate the stress - on T (tonic) - 5 - 7 - 3 - 3 - 7 - 5 - T. The rotating stress let's you know when you've 'finished' - on the next stressed tonic.

(Starting from the top, the stress is T - 4 - 2 - 6 - 6 - 2 - 4 - T.)

Five keys demonstrated - C, D, B flat, E and A flat. Ideally, you should be able to choose any note, decide start up/start down, decide left or right hand leads, and PERFORM.

Playing scales IS playing the piano. Playing with your scales IS being a musician. Practice accumulates, like pennies in an piggy-bank!

Staggered scales in C

Staggered scales in D

Staggered scales in B flat

Staggered scales in E

Staggered scales in A flat

Staggered scales - game

Now:

• Pick any piano key within an octave (up or down) of middle C;
• Decide: Start up or start down;
• Decide: Right hand or left hand leads;
• Play that staggered scale.

Repeat daily!