FUNSCALES – VOLUME 1 Compact Disc Music Minus 1 £11.00 (Available from website)

As teachers, we seem to be eternally cursed with the same problem – trying to get pupils to see the point of practising scales; the majority cannot see the connexion between well-executed scales and the fluency of technique required by their pieces. Even if they do acknowledge it, fewer find the drive and motivation to spend the requisite time on such matters. Therefore, the Funscales CD has been devised as a possible solution, consisting of backing tracks in popular styles that students can use as accompaniments as an aid to practice.

This is a useful aid since it forces pupils to play metronomically and the tracks are long enough (averaging around 1 minute 10 seconds) to allow sufficient time to repeatedly practise a scale without loss of concentration.

A different backing track is provided for each major and minor scale, and each piece begins with an easy-to-follow introduction to set the tempo. The tempos throughout the CD are sensibly steady and suitable for lower-grade students; more advanced students might not find the CD quite as useful for this reason (although we can all benefit from slow steady practice now and again!). To supplement the tracks a chart of suggested basic rhythms to play is included.

I would recommend this to teachers of all tuned instruments. Since it surely has the potential to encourage better technical practice amongst lower grade students, it can be no bad thing.

Gavin Meredith