I LOVE SCALES. Although... I loathed playing them as a child. It doesn't matter which ones. Harmonic Minors. Chromatic. Arpeggio. The standard Major scales. So if I may, I'd like to point out just a few benefits to starting off with those scales when you first sit down.
1. They are the perfect warm up. Not only just for the fingers but for the mind too. They are a great way to switch off from 'whatever you were doing before' and switch on into piano playing mode. So always get into the habit of running through a few scale sets when you first sit down to practice. The Majors will help warm up the fingers and release any tension whilst the Arpeggios will help stretch the wrists.
2. Improves finger co-ordination, strength and nimbleness. It's no easy job training both hands to work harmoniously together, especially when you're new to the instrument. Playing scales will help sync your hands together by playing two individual notes in perfect unison. Finger strength will also be improved as each and every one (including that little pinky) works to produce notes that are equal in volume and tempo. Dexterity will be boosted too. With sweeping under thumbs and black keys to tackle, your fingers will become even more nimble as they run up and down the keys. You'll begin to see those finger patterns with ease.
3. Scales improve accurate fingering. You're blessed with eight fingers and two thumbs but there are 88 keys to conquer on a piano. Playing scales will help improve your finger technique needed to move around the keyboard effortlessly and with precision. Your 'spatial awareness' of the keyboard will be enhanced too.
TIP: Start to mix things up. We all know running through scales can be a chore. But there's nothing wrong with putting a different spin on them. Play them staccato or with an irregular rhythm or have a go inverting them so that the left hand starts ascending whilst the right starts at the top and descends. It's a great why to practice different articulations, rhythms and dynamics.
4. They will help with musical theory such as key signatures. Whether it's a simple C major key signature or more complicated minor, learning different scales and the corresponding sharps and flats will assist you greatly and further develop your tonal ear. Alongside this, scales will also improve your understanding of how chords are put together. Quite simply, they can be the 'building blocks' of all things musical by providing a structure for melodies and harmonies.
These are just some of the most important reasons why playing scales at the start of your piano practice will benefit your overall playing and knowledge of music theory. So go forth and practice!
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