One Octave Arpeggios (6.1)

When you have mastered the basic three-dimensional form on five notes, you are ready to move on to the one-octave arpeggio.

• In the right hand, review the basic three-dimensional form on a C Major pentascale, one octave above middle C. (CDEFGFEDC)
• Prepare to play a major seventh on C-E-G-B. Start by positioning your right hand over the notes C-Eb, F, G, A so that your hand is small and well aligned.
• Begin with a well-aligned hand and lift your quiet hand with a supple wrist to initiate the first ‘under and out’ motion when moving from your thumb toward your fifth finger, opening your hand only as each successive note is needed when playing C-E-G-B–rather than fixing the hand over those notes in advance.
• With continuous alignment adjustments, follow this with the ‘over and in’ motion that brings you back to the starting note.
• Open your hand to the full arpeggio, CE.

• In the left hand, review the basic three-dimensional form by placing the thumb on the C below middle C. (CBAGFGABC)
• Invert the figure you practised in the right hand, now descending from e3, so E-C-A-F (or an F Major 7th chord). Start by positioning your hand over the notes shown above, mirroring the right hand’s position.
• Begin with a well-aligned hand and lift your quiet hand with a supple wrist to initiate the first ‘under and out’ motion when moving from your thumb toward your fifth finger, opening your hand only as each successive note is needed when playing E-C-A-F–rather than fixing the hand over those notes in advance.
• With continuous alignment adjustments, follow this with the ‘over and in’ motion that brings you back to the starting note.

Bach: Minuet in G, Anh. 114

• In the right hand, integrate the opening one-octave arpeggio, ascending, with the additional notes A, F#, and G as discussed in the video, maintaining a medial position for the wrist on the fourth note of the arpeggio (G) to reduce excess movement in the vertical plane for the entire 7-note figure.
• In measure 2, the left hand plays a complete one-octave arpeggio, ascending and descending. This is a very basic “over and under” gesture.
• In measure 8, experiment with playing the left hand’s eighth notes by using a “macro-gesture,” gradually raising the arm and wrist to release forward on the first note of measure 9.