The Importance of Scales and Music Theory

[smithreeseii]

I have been playing piano seriously for about 5 years now, in addition to another 4 years that I was forced to play because I did not see its importance (and I will be kicking myself from now on for it).  Now I get a tremendous amount of enjoyment from it.

Everyone that hears me play (that actually cares for good music) says I have a very good touch for music, expecially pieces such as Chopin nocturnes, preludes, Beethoven adagio movements, and other defining piano pieces of the romantic era. And I enjoy playing these pieces and making them my own.  However, I absolutely loathe practicing scales and exercises of that nature (Hanon, etc.).  It is probably because of this that I am not able to get through Bach inventions and other similar pieces.

My question is: will the ability to play scales well increase my skill as a pianist greatly?  How much do scales really help you progress? I would really like some insight from different teachers on this question.
Thank you.

[stevebob]

I strongly believe that efficient fingering, consistently employed, is fundamental to playing classical piano well.  Scale fingerings are the basis for practical and functional fingering choices within scale-like passages, which most repertoire contains.  To that extent, then, familiarity with scales is very useful for making sound fingering decisions; even if such knowledge isn't consciously applied, one has a much stronger sense of what choices can be expected to work well than someone who has never studied scales.

Further, people who practice scales as a regular part of their routine speak of great benefit to coordination, control and evenness.  Others have satisfactory proficiency in those areas without ever practicing scales and choose not to devote time to them.  My feeling about regimens that include scales and other purely technical exercises is that if you need them, you'll benefit from them; if you benefit from them, then you needed them.  There's no one-size-fits-all answer.

The title of your thread refers to theory, but you don't make any mention of it in your post.  In my opinion, there's no downside to learning as much music theory as one is able to absorb.

[smithreeseii]

Thank you, SteveBob.

Looks like I need to start practicing scales more, its just hard to occupy my time with that when I have Chopin sitting on my music rest. 

I think I put theory in the title accidentally, as I was already aware of its importance, sorry.

[stevebob]

I know exactly what you mean, speaking as someone who always has Chopin on his music stand and hasn't practiced scales since childhood (and even then in only a few keys). 

I believe in approaching even a casual avocation with skillfulness, but you haven't mentioned what your goals presently are.  If you are pursuing piano study solely for your own pleasure and self-fulfillment, then there may be a delicate balance here:  what might benefit you also exacts a toll on your enjoyment, and yet the greatest satisfaction comes from doing something well.  Is it worth the cost?

That's for you to decide.  I recommend you keep some fun in your routine lest you drift away from something that comes to feel more like drudgery.

Happy playing!

[dss62467]

years and years of my practice went by without me even LEARNING what the scales were!   My teacher would say "sonata....in G major"   and I'd be, "Peter, you know that means nothing to me".   Well, now I'm doing scales as part of my daily practice and have seen an improvement almost immediately.   Just in my ability to feel comfortable with my fingering and relaxing.   Now I'm adding trill practice too... it's sort of mentally painful...

[synthex]

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[dss62467]

Do you mean Hanon's scales or exercises?  In the back of the book, he has the 12 major and minor scales and I've been looking at those lately.  It's just a scale....

[synthex]

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