1/1/2018 Create and motivate: scales 101

Create and motivate: scales 101

Dec 24 Posted by Bradley Sowash in Clavier Companion

Practicing scales combines technique, muscle memory, and theory in one exercise. Yet when I asked a
transfer student if she understood why her assignment included scales, her reply surprised me: "No, not really,
but they must be important because my previous teachers also insisted I practice them." Sometimes, we, as
teachers, forget to explain why we teach what we teach. So, here's my list to facilitate discussion about why and
how practicing scales improves musicianship.

Benefits of practicing scales:

1. Technique: Like conditioning for athletes, scales and scale-based exercises develop agility and stamina for
musicians. When played by memory, scales help the student focus on finer technical details such as posture, wrist
position, curved fingers, etc., without the distraction of deciphering written music.

2. Muscle Memory: Since seconds are the most common interval found in music and scales are made of
seconds, scale practice prepares the hand to finger the many scale-like passages found in music—for both
reading and improvising.

3. Theory: In western music, scales and chords are typically derived from the key signature. Thus, practicing the
scales (and arpeggios) in the key of a new piece increases the odds of hitting the right notes most likely to be
found there.

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Squared scales
Like the four sides of a square, western music is structured around even numbers such as four subdivisions
beamed together, four beats in a measure, four measures between cadences, etc. Therefore, practicing odd-
numbered seven-note scales with five fingers can make scales seem inherently disconnected from actual music.
Band directors sometimes get around this by lengthening the top and bottom notes of scales.

If you've ever sung in a choir, it's likely you warmed up on this evened-up scale variation in successive keys.

For pianists, repeating and lengthening the top note in various rhythmic durations and phrase lengths is a great
way to make scales more relevant to actual music. Using a metronome or drum track to enhance the time, ask
your students to "square" the scale associated with the key of a current piece at the beginning of each practice
session.

Squaring scales this way adds two more to the list of benefits above:

4. Phrasing: Squared scales help develop an intuitive feel for square phrase lengths, which, in turn, helps
musicians keep their place in the musical form.

5. Rhythm: Playing squared scales with various note durations over a steady beat increases one's understanding
of how rhythmic subdivisions interrelate.

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Tips

  • Regardless of level, all students should start with half notes in one or both hands to reset the muscle memory
and give the ear a moment to internalize the sound.

• Since the first four examples above all fit into eight measures, group lesson students can play them two or more
note durations at the same time.

• Advanced students can do the same thing with different note durations in each hand.

Next time, we'll look at other ways to make scales more relevant to reading and improvising music. Until then,
enjoy your creative music making journey. 

Tags Sowash Scales

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