When we learn to read, we don’t begin with War and Peace, or the works of Shakespeare. We begin with learning letters and sounds, then blending those letters, then short words, then rules. It is a process. Learning music is no different. Simply learning what key on the piano is what note name doesn’t mean you can immediately play a Bach fugue. It is a process.

Scales are part of this process; they are the backbone of most music we play. They are the foundation of chords. They help to build muscle memory and dexterity. They are so important! Yet they are the hardest thing to convince students to practise.

Practising scales is crucial for piano students for several reasons, each contributing to both technical development and musical understanding. Here are the main reasons:

1. Develops Finger Strength and Dexterity: Scales help build strength and agility in the fingers, which is essential for playing more complex pieces. Regular practise ensures smooth, controlled movements and coordination between hands.
2. Improves Hand Coordination: Scales allow students to practise both hands together in various patterns, improving hand coordination and independence. This is important for playing pieces that require different actions from each hand.
3. Enhances Technique and Control: Practising scales with proper fingering and hand positioning teaches good technical habits, which translate to better control over dynamics, articulation, and phrasing in more challenging music.
4. Develops Knowledge of Key Signatures: Scales help familiarise students with all major and minor key signatures, improving their ability to recognise and understand the structure of different keys. This knowledge is essential for reading music and playing in various tonalities.
5. Aids Sight-Reading: By regularly practising scales, students become more comfortable with the patterns found in music, which helps improve sight-reading skills. They will be able to recognise intervals, patterns, and harmonic structures faster.
6. Improves Musical Ear: Playing scales helps develop a better sense of pitch and tonal relationships, improving the student’s ability to recognise intervals, chords, and melodies by ear.
7. Builds Speed and Accuracy: Practising scales at various tempos allows students to gradually increase their speed and play more accurately, which is essential for performing more advanced repertoire.
8. Develops Mental Focus and Discipline: Scales require focused and repetitive practice, fostering discipline and a deep connection to the music. Regular scale practise also trains the mind to maintain attention to detail and to practice with intention.
9. Establishes a Foundation for Technique in Complex Pieces: Scales are the building blocks for more complex piano techniques like arpeggios, chords, and runs. Mastery of scales gives students a solid foundation for tackling more advanced technical challenges.
10. Teaches Musical Phrasing and Dynamics: When practising scales, students can experiment with different dynamics, articulations, and phrasing, which will help them incorporate expressive elements into their playing in a more sophisticated way.

If you are considering music lessons for your child or for yourself, please contact me to discuss the options. Piano lessons are conducted at my studio in Wallsend, NSW.