Hello all:

 I am often asked why scales are so important?

Well scales are the foundation of most classical pieces.  Classical composers are Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Clementi, to name a few.  They all use scales in their compositions.  Many of the Mozart Piano Concertos have long stretches of scales performed over and over in different configurations.

I always tell my students, if you learn the scales correctly, you learned them for life.  You see a classical piece you would like to play, define the scale you see and "plug in" the fingering you learned earlier of this section of scale.  You do not need to practice this section as much and it is easier to memorize, than if you did not learn your scales prior.

I came to this conlcusion much, much later in my life.  When I was in my early teens, after entering the Conservatory, i really thought I knew it all, but little did i know.  I learned, memorized my classical pieces, note by note -- so I spent endless hours memorizing and rememorizing sections of scales.  I learned the pieced note by note C,D,E,F,G,A,B -- rather than, ah, C Major C - B.

I remember, my mom was always very encouraging to hear me play piano, and I always told her:"oh, I cannot play, no I do not want to play" -- but regardless, she enticed me to play -- so many years later, these are still some of my fondest memories of her. ANd the same pieces i could not master well then, are very easy now, years later, after defining scales and "plugging them into the right sections in those pieces".  Schubert is still one of my favorite composers, I am certain because of my mom's encouragements. In Schubert's Op 142 no 4, f minor, you have very fast scales that need to be played beautifully and rhythmically beautiful.

In Schubert's Impromptu Op 90 no 2 Eb major, you again have very fast scales;  most recording I heard play these pieces without inspiration, close to a finger exercise rendition, entirely missing the waltz lilt underlying the technical scales.

When we look at the applications of scales, they need to be learned and practiced many many times from early playing piano through the different levels, so the technical skills mature with musicality.  THe National Guild Piano Playing auditions require scales and cadences for each piece performed.  I LOVE this concept.  It gives a great reason to practice at minimum the scales of the pieces performed.

Now, let's take a look at rhythm.  I ask each student: "How many times did you count out LOUDLY?" and the answer usually is a quite muffled, "maybe one time",... and then, I usually follow that statement with a 15 minute lecture on the importance of rhythm.

Look, you will NEVER be able to play this gorgeous music by Schubert, mozart, Beethoven without dedicated scales studies.

You NEED TO COUNT, you need to get those fingers moving to play beautiful smooth sounds, going up, slight crescendo, going down, slight diminuendo.  Crescendo (getting louder), diminuendo (getting softer).  Each note, needs to sound evenly, medium loud, not hammered, but fluid, just like a necklace of perfect pearls.  Fingers will only obey when they are challenged and trained daily (OK -- 5 -6 days / week)

Schubert in some organizations is considered a Romantic composer and in other organizations you have a choice to use his works as Classical or Romantic. The Mastery required to make Schubert's music "sound" is in the difficulty of rhythm that lies under the flurry of scales and arpeggios and chords. The pianos at Schubert's times played easier and had a more elegant and lighter, brighter tone, so pieces could be played faster and sounded great.  The modern piano is heavier to play and requires greater knowledge of touch to bring out a similar elegant and light sound, especially for Mozart's works.

If you want to play the classics wells, and they are really not that hard, just a little elbow grease and know how and you can make them sound good; if you want to make Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert sound great, you need to start counting out loudly and cultivating good quality sounds in your daily scales practice.

have a great time practicing your scales, just remember, you are actually preparing to play the masterworks a few years down the road.

Good luck to you all.

Sincerely

Eva Martin