Importance of Scales

[pianolotus]

While many dont touch Hanon for fear of injury, they still may stress the importance of practicing scales.

Apart from knowing key signatures inside out, what is the importance of scales? finger strength? agility? speed?

 

[pianoannie]

I'm not as opposed to Hanon as others here seem to be (every teacher I've ever had assigned Hanon).  With scales, there is so much theory being reinforced, which is the primary reason I assign scales.  Knowing scales in all 24 keys helps to play pieces in all 24 keys, because you are already familiar with which groups of flats or sharps go together.  Also, because scale runs (or portions thereof) commonly appear in pieces, those passages are quite easy when scales are already thoroughly mastered.  In conjunction with playing scales, my students also play the chord cadences for each key, which is also valuable in playing pieces, as the primary harmonies of each key are already familiar.
I think there is technical value in playing scales as well.

[xvimbi]

I'm not as opposed to Hanon as others here seem to be (every teacher I've ever had assigned Hanon).  With scales, there is so much theory being reinforced, which is the primary reason I assign scales.  Knowing scales in all 24 keys helps to play pieces in all 24 keys, because you are already familiar with which groups of flats or sharps go together.  Also, because scale runs (or portions thereof) commonly appear in pieces, those passages are quite easy when scales are already thoroughly mastered.  In conjunction with playing scales, my students also play the chord cadences for each key, which is also valuable in playing pieces, as the primary harmonies of each key are already familiar.
I think there is technical value in playing scales as well.

Scales are very important, but they are hardly a Hanon invention, so one should not equate Hanon with "learning scales". The problem with Hanon is his premise of gaining complete finger independence and equal strength by doing his exercises with the methods he prescribed. This is anatomically impossible, therefore it is easy to get injured by playing his exercises, and it's boring to boot. If all that's pointed out to students, and they are expertly guided through Hanon exercises with the correct movements, then there is nothing wrong with them, except the boring part.