QUESTION FOR MUSICIANS: The value of technical exercises, scales, etc.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

As someone who plays the piano as a hobby with the goal of becoming a halfway decent amateur (currently putting in only 6-8 hrs a week), I have been advised by my teacher not to spend more than 30 minutes per practice session on technical exercises, scales, etc. I am doing major and minor scales, arpeggios, cadences, triads, and am working my way through Czerny's and Brahms' exercises. But I don't play all of these every time I practice; I've split them up into three of four different routines. On the days I play Brahms and Czerny, I don't play scales, for example.

As an intermediate-level player (playing Bach's French Suite No. 4, a couple of Debussy preludes, Schumann Kinderszenen, etc.), I find these useful for warmup and am not very good at just sitting down cold and playing. I also sort of enjoy these things in their own right. And I certainly recognize the importance of knowing scales. etc.

Some people I've talked to believe that much of this is a waste of time and that one could do better just playing Bach's inventions (I've already learned two of the 2 part inventions), and devising exercses built around difficulties in pieces one is currently learning.

So, here are my questions:

- Do you practice the scales, arpeggios, cadences, etc. ?
- Do you do technical exercises?
- Do you feel these are worthwhile, or are you just doing it to make your teacher happy?
- Do you think these types of things are less worthwhile as one progresses?
- Do you think they actually improve your playing?
- (for pianists especially) What exercises do you think have been the most helpful to you?

Any and all other thoughts on this topic are welcome.

[aquablob]

- Do you practice the scales, arpeggios, cadences, etc. ?
- Do you do technical exercises?
- Do you feel these are worthwhile, or are you just doing it to make your teacher happy?
- Do you think these types of things are less worthwhile as one progresses?
- Do you think they actually improve your playing?
- (for pianists especially) What exercises do you think have been the most helpful to you?

Any and all other thoughts on this topic are welcome.

Some general thoughts --

I do not generally practice the different aspects of technique individually/systematically. I do a lot of free improvisation, and have done so for a long time. These improvisations frequently incorporate scalar passages, arpeggios, ornaments, etc., but I am mostly just noodling around. I'm not sure that I could even play each particular scale or arpeggio right away if asked to (I don't have the fingerings all "memorized"), but because of my experience I am able to put such passages together rather quickly -- and in my opinion, this is the most important reason to build up your technique.

To clarify: learning scales and arpeggios (etc.) is important so that you can teach yourself musical passages in an accurate and timely fashion. If your fingers just "know" how to move with each other along the keyboard, it shouldn't take very long to "teach" them a specific passage. The faster you can do this, the faster you can learn a whole piece, and -- more importantly -- the more time you can spend focusing on formal/structural/interpretive elements.

So whether you build up the "chops" improvising, playing technical exercises, or playing relevant pieces, building those chops is ultimately about the music and should thus be a worthwhile cause. If you dislike technical exercises (not you specifically) enough to turn you off from playing altogether, then it's clearly not worth it.

If a preferable approach is to learn pieces, then some Bach (or whoever) is probably a great idea. Just pick pieces carefully so that you are always picking up more technique, but are not wasting time trying to learn a piece that you are simply not ready to handle. Start with shorter works, such as the aforementioned inventions, Scarlatti sonatas, individual movements from piano sonatas (shorter ones are frequently the dance movements, and slow movements are frequently excellent for developing legato), etc. This allows for a frequent sense of accomplishment and often more enjoyment. High morale is crucial because it helps sustain the will to always improve and play more musically.

Music is ultimately a journey. There are beginnings and endings scattered throughout, but there is no end line. So however you travel down the road of improvement, enjoy yourself in the process.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Interesting thoughts, Aquariuswb! I appreciate what you say about picking up new pieces of technique with each new piece. I decided to play the Beethoven Bagatelle Op. 126 No. 3 not only because it is a gorgeous little piece, but also because of the long trill in the right hand, which is something I need practice with. I am now working on Debussy's Dancers of Delphi from Bk. I of the preludes and it is outstanding for providing the additional practice I need with big chords. I want to do a loud, staccato piece next--probably something along the lines of Debussy's Golliwog's Cakewalk, but my teacher thinks it's best to hold off on this for a little bit.

[Holden]

Scales and more importantly,exercises can be of great value to the learner who can build a formidable technique, as he/she learns, by practising these 'basic' skills. There is also value in exercises that accentuate certain technicalities and if there is a perceived technical weakness in your playing then the right ones can be very helpful. After that, they are a waste of time. If your technique is still faulty at this point it probably always will be.

[Harry Collier]

I can't speak for pianists. But for violinists, regular practising of scales is absolutely essential to hone and preserve intonation.