Why Do I Have to Practice Scales?

The human body must be trained to do just about everything. An athlete or dancer trains long and hard to develop the muscles and flexibility to perform at his or her best. Not only do they spend years developing the perfect fast ball, field goal or pirouette, they must warm up their bodies with stretches and exercises every time they perform.

Scales and arpeggios are basic training for pianists. Not only do they help you understand key signatures and develop your reading skills, they also help you develop your finger muscles as well. They enable you to become more flexible so you can play fast or slow, soft or loud, legato or staccato. They help you gain control of your body. They also serve as the perfect warm up so your performance will be your very best.

To do anything well, you must spend a little energy in preparation. If you ask a professional football player what he does when he’s off the football field, he’ll probably tell you he spends a lot of his time training for the next big game. Or ask a ballerina and she’ll probably tell you she practices for her next tour or performance.

So, the next time your teacher asks you to practice your scales, remember that he or she is just asking you to be the best you can be.

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