Scales are the key to music on so many levels. We take scales very seriously at TIA. The reason that we take scales so seriously is not just because of the scales themselves, although they can be a ton of fun, they are fascinating, and we think scales on their own are just a beautiful part of music. But beyond that, scales unlock so many mysteries of music and provide the means for traveling the journey of music on so many levels.
Here are just a few reasons why scales matter so deeply, and we hope that you and/or your student learn to love them.
- Simple victories are important in any journey, but definitely in music.
Music is not easy. In fact, sometimes it can be a serious challenge, stressful, and potentially defeating! We need the challenge, and healthy stress is a beautiful thing. We do not need or want anyone to be defeated! Scales are a measurable and attainable goal. We may not yet master that new technique or difficult piece, but we can learn a new scale and celebrate a victory!
- Scales teach you all the notes on your instrument in every possible combination.
If you want to make music, you need to be able to find and play the notes to make it. If you learn all of your major scales, you have learned all of your notes (or just about). If you learn all of your foundational 48 (major, minor, harmonic, and melodic) you have learned the most common combinations of them you will ever see or hear and therefore need to play.
- Scales teach you all the fingerings on your instrument in every possible combination.
Just like above, if you can facilitate all of your scales, you will likely never see a note or phrase and not know how to play it.
- Scales teach you every key in music.
Countless musicians sadly struggle or maybe are even unable to play at all in some keys simply because they are unfamiliar to them. If you know F# Major like you know C, then they are just two different keys. Knowing your scales and their keys means being able to play in any key.
- Scales teach you every chord in music.
Every chord is built off of a scale. If you know your scales, you can understand every chord you will ever see or hear, and how to build your own voicings. You will also eventually understand what scales work best over each chord and why, and that is a ton of fun!
- Scales are the first thing you will often play in an audition.
Would you like to spend a summer playing music professionally at Disney World? How about playing on a cruise ship? In a pit orchestra? Would you like to go to college and get a scholarship to pay for your education? The first thing you will likely be asked, is to play your scales.
Sadly, many music teachers either do not know their scales, do not understand their importance, or do not know how to teach them, often all of the above. This is tragic. We see students that come to us all the time from learning music elsewhere and they are under-prepared in this area. They don’t understand keys, they don’t know their chords, they miss notes. Don’t get stuck because your teacher can’t help you navigate the tonal centers of music or the fingerings all around your instrument. Give us a call, let us help you.