Learning the Piano:
The
last topic from my book is harmonic and melodic minors. The author says, “The harmonic
minor in sometimes called the Mohammedan scale because it sounds like a common
mode in Arabic music” (Martin 132). In this scale you raise the seventh degree
and create a step and a half between degrees six and seven. The difference between
melodic is that you also raise the 6th degree. When descending the scale,
you play in natural minor or, “flattening (lowering) degrees 7 and 6. But you
can find exceptions” (Martin 134).
There
are many examples where Mozart and other composers use these scales in their music.
In Mozart’s Piano Sonata in A major, K. 331, the first movement includes a
melodic form of the A scale. While I was testing the scales I thought that the
scales were confusing and difficult to keep straight, especially the melodic, because
when descending you have to play naturals.
Zara, your playing is amazing! My favorite scales are G major(because it is easy), and I also like the sounds of melodic scales. How did you train your hands to work together? I can only ever focus on one hand when I try to play the piano.
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