Scales :(
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
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hopelessfluteplayer
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 8:16 am
Scales :(
Any tips on how to learn scales effectively?
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pied_piper
- Posts: 1962
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:31 pm
- Location: Virginia
Re: Scales :(
Use the shampoo method: Lather, rinse, repeat. 
The same is true when learning scales. Play up, play down, repeat.
Start slow, use a metronome. Play the scale CORRECTLY, repeat. If you make a mistake, start again but slower. Sometimes with difficult scales, it helps to do scale fragments. By that I mean, play the first three notes (1, 2, 3) of the scale several times. Then do 2, 3, 4 several times, then 3, 4, 5 etc. then move on to groups of 4 notes, then 5 notes, etc. When you can play the fragments correctly, then do the whole scale. When the whole scale can be played correctly, then increase the speed by a few clicks on the metronome.
Again, the bottom line to learning scales is simply repetition.
The same is true when learning scales. Play up, play down, repeat.
Start slow, use a metronome. Play the scale CORRECTLY, repeat. If you make a mistake, start again but slower. Sometimes with difficult scales, it helps to do scale fragments. By that I mean, play the first three notes (1, 2, 3) of the scale several times. Then do 2, 3, 4 several times, then 3, 4, 5 etc. then move on to groups of 4 notes, then 5 notes, etc. When you can play the fragments correctly, then do the whole scale. When the whole scale can be played correctly, then increase the speed by a few clicks on the metronome.
Again, the bottom line to learning scales is simply repetition.
"Never give a flute player a screwdriver."
--anonymous--
--anonymous--
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fluteguy18
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:11 pm
Re: Scales :(
In addition to PP's spot on advice, I have this to add:
Scales should never be a boring thing to practice. They (along with your arpeggios) are the backbone of at least 80-90% of the music you will ever play (if not more) and should take up a size-able amount of your practice routine. It is important to have notes to listen for and to aim towards as you play them. These will be your anchors. I generally aim for the notes on the beat, or if the entire scale falls within a singular beat I listen for the pitches in the triad/7th chord (the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th notes in the scale). Not only will this help you group the notes together when practicing sub-components, it will also give your ear a chance to hear all of the notes and to know that they are in the right place. I will also make a point to give the scales direction.
Scales should always be played beautifully rather than monotonously. If your scales are clear, pristine, and beautiful to listen to, then so will the remainder of your playing. Give your scales dynamics, tone colors, and styles. Make them fun! Make the scales interesting by mixing them up, and by also practicing by inverting your down beats and your up beats (starting on the off beat instead of the down beat), and also by playing around with the subdivisions of your metronome. (It's quite challenging playing a triplet rhythm the first time around with duples or quadruples underneath for the first time). I once learned the entire Mendelssohn Scherzo from a Midsummer Night's Dream with the metronome set on quarter notes instead of dotted quarters and then inverted everything (I did it by starting on the upbeat). Crazy!
But to boil it down, scales (and arpeggios) are all about repetition. Varying your practicing methods will not only keep them interesting but will also reveal inconsistencies and problems within your playing.
Scales should never be a boring thing to practice. They (along with your arpeggios) are the backbone of at least 80-90% of the music you will ever play (if not more) and should take up a size-able amount of your practice routine. It is important to have notes to listen for and to aim towards as you play them. These will be your anchors. I generally aim for the notes on the beat, or if the entire scale falls within a singular beat I listen for the pitches in the triad/7th chord (the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th notes in the scale). Not only will this help you group the notes together when practicing sub-components, it will also give your ear a chance to hear all of the notes and to know that they are in the right place. I will also make a point to give the scales direction.
Scales should always be played beautifully rather than monotonously. If your scales are clear, pristine, and beautiful to listen to, then so will the remainder of your playing. Give your scales dynamics, tone colors, and styles. Make them fun! Make the scales interesting by mixing them up, and by also practicing by inverting your down beats and your up beats (starting on the off beat instead of the down beat), and also by playing around with the subdivisions of your metronome. (It's quite challenging playing a triplet rhythm the first time around with duples or quadruples underneath for the first time). I once learned the entire Mendelssohn Scherzo from a Midsummer Night's Dream with the metronome set on quarter notes instead of dotted quarters and then inverted everything (I did it by starting on the upbeat). Crazy!
But to boil it down, scales (and arpeggios) are all about repetition. Varying your practicing methods will not only keep them interesting but will also reveal inconsistencies and problems within your playing.
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pied_piper
- Posts: 1962
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:31 pm
- Location: Virginia
Re: Scales :(
FG18's post adds some great points and reminds me of another way to keep scales interesting. Vary the rhythm and articulation!
Play quarter notes
Play eighth notes
Play sixteenth notes
Play Dotted eighth/sixteenth notes
Play sixteenth/dotted eighth notes
Slur them all
Slur in groups of four
Slur two, tongue two
Slur three, tongue one
Tongue one, slur three
Tongue two, slur two
Tongue them all
Double tongue them
etc.
Play quarter notes
Play eighth notes
Play sixteenth notes
Play Dotted eighth/sixteenth notes
Play sixteenth/dotted eighth notes
Slur them all
Slur in groups of four
Slur two, tongue two
Slur three, tongue one
Tongue one, slur three
Tongue two, slur two
Tongue them all
Double tongue them
etc.
"Never give a flute player a screwdriver."
--anonymous--
--anonymous--
Re: Scales :(
I agree with what has already been posted, but I just want to add my .02 cents.
Scales and Arpeggios are the basis of all music and styles. Some would argue whether scales are necessary or not. Most top players use them as a warm up tool.
When I start a student on scales, I start them out by practicing all of them at the same time (Cma, C#/Dbma, Dma, etc....) from the bottom to the top of the flute. Only at a speed at which they can play them with out mistakes. At first I will allow them to read the notes. Later on, I will require them to do them from memory. This will not only help train your ears, this will also take the thinking out of fingering notes. Especially in keys that have a lot of sharps/flats. The students that do what I suggest progress much faster and can execute more difficult pieces faster than the ones that don't. After a while, you will be able to identify runs and arpeggios in music pieces.
Scales and Arpeggios are not a bad thing. They are nothing but a building block for music. Make the most of the exercise. Make it a challenge to learn them, and set goals.
Scales and Arpeggios are the basis of all music and styles. Some would argue whether scales are necessary or not. Most top players use them as a warm up tool.
When I start a student on scales, I start them out by practicing all of them at the same time (Cma, C#/Dbma, Dma, etc....) from the bottom to the top of the flute. Only at a speed at which they can play them with out mistakes. At first I will allow them to read the notes. Later on, I will require them to do them from memory. This will not only help train your ears, this will also take the thinking out of fingering notes. Especially in keys that have a lot of sharps/flats. The students that do what I suggest progress much faster and can execute more difficult pieces faster than the ones that don't. After a while, you will be able to identify runs and arpeggios in music pieces.
Scales and Arpeggios are not a bad thing. They are nothing but a building block for music. Make the most of the exercise. Make it a challenge to learn them, and set goals.