Grade 8 Piano RCM Technical Requirements - by Vincent SPICER

Here I play the entire book, Piano Level 8 Technical Requirements (2008), from beginning to end. This is what you need to be able to play, very much as you hear it played in this video, to be ready for the RCM grade 8 piano exam. This video is for reference purpose, to give you a general idea of the technical requirements. You should have all technical exercises very clean and polished; I recorded this "cold" (without practice) so there are a few minor rough spots, notably some irregular steadiness. This is because I'm used to playing at 120 to 144 (scales) so I tend to rush ahead of the metronome as I play through these scales at 88. The purpose however is to give a general overview of the amount of different technical exercises that must be learned (117 different items to practice! -- 39 pages). When you practice technique, devote a lot of rigorous, disciplined time to it (as much as practicing repertoire and studies). www.studiospicer.com

[@sbuu]

♩ = 88bpm (unless specified) / 16th notes 1:07 - Parallel motion scales, 4 oct. 6:49 - Staccato scales, 3 oct. 8:13 - Formula pattern scales 9:55 - Chromatic scales, 2 oct. 10:33 - Scales in oct. (solid form), 8th notes, 2 oct. 11:27 - Scales in oct. (broken form), ♩ = 108bpm / 8th notes, 2 oct. 13:32 - Tonic 4 note chords broken form with cadences, 2 oct. 18:29 - Dominant 7th chords broken & solid, 2 oct. 24:32 - Diminished 7th broken & solid, 2 oct. 30:17 - Tonic arpeggios and inversions, ♩ = 69bpm / 16th, 4 oct. 36:02 - Dominant 7th arpeggios broken and inversions, ♩ = 69bpm / 16th, 4 oct. 38:28 - Diminished 7th arpeggios, ♩ = 69bpm / 16th, 4 oct. 40:44 - And we're done ;-)

[@Tomy97xbox]

+Blopss The world needs more people like you :)

[@VincentSPICER]

+Thomas Jones Thank you, Thomas. I think it was nice that Blopss took the time to write out this index according to type of scale. I thank him, too!

[@VincentSPICER]

+Blopss Thank you, Blopss for taking the time to write out this index of type of scales so that people can navigate the long video in a quicker manner.

[@willtookmytaco]

Thank you so much! Your playing is lovely.

[@daliab8493]

hi Vincent, this is most helpful! do you have such a recording for grade 9 and 10 technical requirements? my grade 9 piano exam is in june. thanks!

[@sophiyavevo1166]

At least how many years does it to be level 8 from level 1 for late beginner like 13 years old

[@bpengwin]

Thanks this will help a lot when practicing for my exam in January:)

[@meelemus]

Thanks forma tour vídeos.

[@sophiethreeonefive2506]

I don't know if it's just me, but I find these grade exams totally unnecessary. In my country, grades do not exist, and I haven't known about them until recently. After 9 years of playing the piano, I can play most pieces labeled grade 8 pretty well with enough practice. But why do you have to be able to play all these scales and arpeggios so perfectly to be officially in that grade? What do you ever need them for? I get that an understanding of scales and harmonies is essential to improvising and composing, and I say nothing against practicing some of them in order to improve the agility of your fingers. However, the purpose of playing ALL of them in every single key and method I just can't quite grasp. Anyways, your playing was really great. Hats off to you, sir!

[@chekwubechukwu4288]

hi sir, how can I get a copy of that book and also other helpful books like that???

[@bryankim1960]

Nice technique

[@DIGITALSCREAMS]

What kind of music is this? I don't recognise any of these pieces.

[@leoyang1296]

Do your hands feel tired after playing the scales?

[@VincentSPICER]

No. In the past, I sometimes played scales between 2 hours to 4 hours straight with only occasional 1 or 2 minute breaks. After a long practice session there can be a normal tiredness, but playing scales at high speed, vigorously for an hour should have no effect on tiredness. If you feel tiredness, it could be a matter of proper hand/arm position (technique) or a matter of "fitness." If you are not "fit" (in shape) for this kind of muscle activity, then the muscles become engorged with blood and cause a temporary fatigue or stiffness.

[@leoyang1296]

Thanks!!! Guess I need more practice

[@leoyang1296]

Thank you for replying. I'm only level 6(LoL). I try to play grade 8 scale speeds but I don't relax my hands and therefore, mess up my accuracy in hitting the notes. What can I do to improve?

[@VincentSPICER]

You should do slow practice and gradually work up to increasing your speed. Patience is required. It takes time for this kind of muscular development.

[@chad4149]

very simlar to Associated board that we have over here.But they are usually a bit faster.

[@VincentSPICER]

+chad414 Do you mean that the AB has faster reqs than the RCM? Possibly. Also, I believe AB has grade 8 as its highest grade/level, whereas RCM has grade 10 as the highest. Grade 8 scales are at 88 whereas grade 10 are at 120 (beats per minutes, sixteenth notes).

[@spicecrop]

Could you please do a lesson showing up close and slowly all the fingering patters of the scales you are doing? I can't find a comprehensive lesson anywhere with all the scales and the correct fingerings for left and right hand.

[@VincentSPICER]

I will consider this; I need to figure out exactly how I would put it together. If the goal is to simply know the correct fingering, then referring to the RCM Technical Requirements book would show you that easier than a video I think. So I'm not sure how valuable a video would be, except to replace the book. It would be a look & see of the playing rather than a look & see of the printed page. Which grade level would this be? When you say "all the scales" do you mean all the scales in this video that are on the grade 8 list, or indeed every scale of every key (grade 9 & 10 requirements)?

[@spicecrop]

Vincent SPICER That would be awesome. There is no video like that on youtube. I am learning to read sheet music slowly but I can so the major scales just fine. Yes please ASIDE from a book. I am talking about a video where you show. Here is C major right hand two octaves, slowly being able to see each finger movement and then for the left hand and so on. I am mainly interested in the flat keys fingerings and the melodic and harmonic minor keys and the pentatonic keys or any other scales used in jazz and blues. you don't even need to talk. most people go too fast and have the camera too far or at a bad angle and don't go through each key. I know the major is all the same except for F major. But i am talking black keys scales. Melodic , Harmonic..... showing the differences between them. Modes would be cool too. I would love to have one video to go through them all and play along with the video. Please It would be awesome and popular in no time at all. Hoping you will have time to do it.

[@spicecrop]

Vincent SPICER I am not taking tests or ever plan to pass grade 1 through 8. But I want to be proficient in scales in every key for BOTH hands. Major diatonic, minor diatonic, Melodic minor, Harmonic minor . Pentatonic Major and minor and any scales and modes used in Jazz , rock, classical and blues. You know one comprehensive video. Not one person has done this and I really can't understand why not. I have played guitar for twenty years but not piano. I want to do it correctly and not develop incorrect fingerings. I know it's a tall order but I know there are many people who would love to have a vid like that if you have time. Thanks and happy Thanksgiving. Sorry for the long text.

[@VincentSPICER]

No problem for the "long text" - but that is good to explain in full detail. Yes, you have a point, I don't think anyone has ever assembled a comprehensive scale video, showing fingering. Yes, a "tall order" as you say, and I would probably be up to it, as long as I have time (maybe summer 2015 if I can get to it then). I still need to figure out camera angles: multiple angles or ONLY close-up), playing slow only, just to demonstrate fingering, and if to include printed material within the video. Sounds like a big project. Check back occasionally and I will see what I can do. I already have on the "to-do" list the complete pianoforte technique (grade 10/ARCT).

[@spicecrop]

Vincent SPICER OK, I will be watching your other videos. I think some good angles are directly over the keyboard but the closest to the keyboard possible the better. Also Gram Fitch has some good off to the side angles that are nice. The kind of over the players shoulder are good positions too. The biggest problem I see is when you can't tell the exact finger the player is using. You see the hand and fingers all moving but have trouble making out the exact finger at the strike of the note. Anything you do would be very appreciated Sir. Thanks for your time.

[@reported4982]

wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@chad4149]

we have a grade 9 I suppose but it s for the more advanced.It will give you letters.then we have anARCM .You dont need to play scales in either it s on pure practical talent and tha marking is hard on both.You prepare a programme of picked pieces from a long list for ARCM.Very few will pass the marking of both upper recitals mean you rarely get a good mark.It really separates the music college from Mr Bloggs.

[@vincejiang2065]

I stopped playing 3 years ago... I completed level 8 with a really good mark, I actually don't know how I was able to accomplish this, I guess with enough practice, you can do anything

[@VincentSPICER]

Yes. And some people practice 2 hours/day, or 4 hours/day, but if you ever venture to take on an 8 hour/day you will rise to yet another new level and surprise yourself. Virtuosity happens.

[@ahrjay3326]

Sviatoslav..? Is that you? Hahah :D

[@VincentSPICER]

+Ahr Jay Seriously, Sviatoslav?!?! Was soll das bedeuten?

[@abanaszewski985]

what piano is that? It's lovely

[@VincentSPICER]

Alice Banaszewski Baldwin L (6'3"). This Baldwin was hand crafted in USA in 1994. It is a very fine quality piano, as good as most Steinways that I have played. After 2008, Gibson guitar company took over the near-bankrupt Baldwin USA and started mass producing Baldwin pianos in China. These are not at all the same piano; they only have the Baldwin decal on the front that resembles anything "Baldwin." Shop wisely.

[@VincentSPICER]

Alice Banaszewski It is a Baldwin model L (6'3") made in USA. Hand-crafted piano, much different that the China-made Baldwins of today. This piano was built in 1994 in Arkansas.

[@brandonscherrer]

are you richter?

[@VincentSPICER]

+Brandon Scherrer Do you mean Sviatoslav RICHTER? Lol, I wish (I could play like Richter)! Martha ARGERICH studied with him.

[@brandonscherrer]

+Vincent SPICER really?! Never knew Argerich studies with him!

[@VincentSPICER]

Yes, he was one of her teachers for a while. I would love to one day have a few lessons with Argerich and with Angela Hewitt (and a couple of others). I think chasing down some of the world's finest pianists is a great way to learn - but it's a matter of time, money, resources, etc. Perhaps when I retire from my current job - if they are still alive by then, lol.

[@jungkooksleftpinky9708]

I thought they would pick some and ask you to play it?

[@VincentSPICER]

amy li You are correct, they would not have time during an exam to have you play "all" the requirements. But you do not know "which" of the scales, chords, etc., that they will ask you, so to be fully prepared, you must learn all of the keys indicated. These requirements have now changed for the new 2015 syllabus (different keys are required, also the cadences for chords has changed slightly).

[@lareinashen7849]

That is awesome playing!!! But c'mon!!! It's 2016!!! The syllabus is different with different scales and all.....

[@lareinashen7849]

Maybe you can do another video on the new syllabus

[@VincentSPICER]

+Lareina Shen Lareina, you are correct. The required content for the new 2015 syllabus is quite different. I don't have time to make a new video. The reason I made this video in the first place was to give a serious wake-up call to some of my grade 8 piano students who didn't take the technical requirements seriously enough. I wanted them to just listen to portions of this video simply to get an idea of just how much technique there is, how involved it is, how polished the scales need to be (not numerous false starts, stutters, etc.). I will possibly delete this video some time. Someone has asked for a grade 10 technical requirements video. I was interested in doing that--COMPLETE technique, but the new grade 10 requirements have also been diluted. In the past, we had to know essentially EVERYTHING - but now, only a few different keys are required. Not sure if I'll do a grade 10 tech reqs video.

[@lareinashen7849]

+Vincent SPICER ohhhhh ok!!!!!

[@lareinashen7849]

good job though!!!!! I love your playing

[@TobyBell]

slight mistake B flat major on the way down, but thanks for posting i needed a guide :)

[@VincentSPICER]

Toby Bell Oops! Lol -- you've made me curious -- I'll have to go back and listen to it! I didn't go over the video with a real fine tooth comb after doing it. Thanks.

[@Thataussiebattler]

ill never be that good :(

[@VincentSPICER]

Rollerskates I think for most people this IS possible. It just takes a lot of time, practice and for sure, mental determination. I don't know how far along you are in your learning, but eventually, this milestone can be achieved.

[@Thataussiebattler]

Thanks vincent... i will try :)