Why Am I Learning Piano Scales?
As a student, you probably be asking this question and still, haven't received a concrete answer to that question. The truth is, many piano teachers will teach scales and require weekly practice of scales without actually knowing why; we've all learned scales when we were merely kids learning to read music and it just seems to be the thing to do to teach our own students how to play them. But, there's a problem...students usually don't want to learn or work on something if they don't know how they can use it to their advantage, or what purpose it serves. If you are asking why you must practice scales, or if you are a student trying to figure out why you have to do this, read below!
Yes scales could be boring (but could be lots of fun); usually your mind has conceived it to be boring, and that why you will lack the zeal to practice them.
Yes scales could be boring (but could be lots of fun); usually your mind has conceived it to be boring, and that why you will lack the zeal to practice them.
First of all, scales are the foundation of many styles of music. Think of Darey's "Not The Girl" and Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles". If you are playing "A Thousand Miles" in the key of 'B' and you've already mastered the 'B' major scale, you might find that it is very easy to navigate through the ups and downs of the melody, since you're already familiar with the tonality and the fingerings associated with the scale. Plus, the scale runs won't scare you anymore since you'll just think of it as going up or down a scale that you've practiced for weeks.
Another reason to practice scales is that they are a great way to warm-up before diving into real practice. If you have to play pieces that are quite fast or physically demanding, you might find that it can be hard to play them right when you sit at the piano. Working through scales to warm up your hands (just like stretching out before a work out!) will help your hands wake up a little and will help you get through those demanding pieces with ease.
Finally, scales are perfect to work on details. For example, if you want to expand your dynamic range, you can do so while practice scales! You can also use scales to practice staccatos, legatos, difficult rhythmic figures, velocity, etc. Those tiny details are hard to practice through pieces because you have to worry about the notes on top of all this. Because you already know which finger to put on which note when you are playing a scale, you'll be able to focus on other details that will enhance your playing in anything else you might play!
So, next time you are wondering why you are practicing this seemingly useless exercise called a scale (or next time one of your reluctant students inquire about them), you'll finally be able to get an answer to your question.
Another reason to practice scales is that they are a great way to warm-up before diving into real practice. If you have to play pieces that are quite fast or physically demanding, you might find that it can be hard to play them right when you sit at the piano. Working through scales to warm up your hands (just like stretching out before a work out!) will help your hands wake up a little and will help you get through those demanding pieces with ease.
Finally, scales are perfect to work on details. For example, if you want to expand your dynamic range, you can do so while practice scales! You can also use scales to practice staccatos, legatos, difficult rhythmic figures, velocity, etc. Those tiny details are hard to practice through pieces because you have to worry about the notes on top of all this. Because you already know which finger to put on which note when you are playing a scale, you'll be able to focus on other details that will enhance your playing in anything else you might play!
So, next time you are wondering why you are practicing this seemingly useless exercise called a scale (or next time one of your reluctant students inquire about them), you'll finally be able to get an answer to your question.
Mind you: these answer are not make-believe. It's either you take your scale practicing seriously or you skip them to your own piano playing peril.
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