What is the point ...
... of practicing scale Piano practice stock image. Picture: Getty stock image 2K They're the bane of every young (and not so young) musicians' life. But why have scales become so key to music practice? By Victoria Longdon, ClassicFM London Did you learn an instrument at school? If so it’s highly likely that your teacher gave you scales to practise. These humble little exercises consist of playing set patterns of notes up and down, and are a staple of most mainstream music exams. It's also highly likely that your teacher never explained to you why you had to learn these (whisper it) boring exercises, or the multitude of benefits they can bring to your playing. Because – believe it or not – scales weren’t invented purely to make exam candidates sweat. So let’s demystify this musicians’ ritual.What is the point of scales, and why should you include them in your practice? Building Blocks Sc...