Why Simple Scales Quietly Transform Early Piano Playing

Young students may be more attracted to a new song or familiar tune, but a few minutes spent with scales can completely transform their relationship to the piano. Scales may be boring, but they help students discover the pathways of the fingerboard. Students who approach scales as a way to develop finger independence and strength find that they improve their technique with every repetition. Here are some tips for using scales to help your students develop their technique.

Step One: Choose one scale for your student to practice this week.

Give your student a chance to play a new major scale, using one hand only. Help him place his fingers on the keys and observe how each finger glides across each key individually without force. Point out the shift in finger placement that happens when his thumb moves underneath his hand, allowing his fingers to take over. This subtle shift is where technique develops. Have him continue to play the scale, up and then down, and repeat it a few times. Encourage him to play slowly.

Common pitfalls.

Fast practice. Scales practiced too fast mask finger problems and encourage tension. Instead, insist that each note is consistent and even. If one note jumps out louder than the others, stop and repeat that section slowly until it blends with the others. The most common finger problem in scales is the collapse of the wrist when the thumb plays. Remind your student to hold up his wrist and allow his hand to shift horizontally.

Five-minute practice idea.

Use the first minute or two to loosen up your student’s fingers with a simple five-note pattern. Have your student play the new scale slowly all the way through. Assign a different element of technique to think about with each repetition of the scale: relaxed shoulders, finger curved, wrist held high, smooth thumb motion, etc. Use the last minute to connect the scale pattern to an easy song he’s been practicing. With regular practice, even just five minutes a day, your student will discover the benefits of scales to his piano lesson in no time.