A slowly growing addiction to exercises (without notes).

[dontcheeseme]

Like for example, scales, octave scales, octave arpeggios, and areggio octaves, and arpeggios. How do I make the most of it, while still making sure that everything I do will lead to something and not a waste of time (no mindless repetitions, nor purposelessness)?

(I do have a teacher which I see only once a week, but I keep forgetting to ask all these questions. I really should consider writing all these down for him)

[marlinspike]

I thought I'd reply because no on else has! I would suggest playing your scales and arps etc. in different ways to make the exercises work for you better. So you could play a scale FF and then PP and try it in legato and then staccato. That would give you good practice using different dynamics and will stop you just playing them thoughtlessly on autopilot. Hope that helps.