Instead of merely playing a scale up and down – learn to interact with it. Get to know it by playing it in different patterns and forms.
Once you’ve interacted with a scale, you’ll own it! You’ll be able to play in that key signature in any piece, in any solo, in any concert
It’s not about just playing scales.
Many of my students have come to me and the only thing they’ve learned about scales is just to play it up and down and they move on to something else. However, practicing scales is not about the scale itself. It’s about the interaction with that scale.
Sure, I have my young students learn the “Plain Jane” scale. They have to be able to play them for their solo contests.
But, then I have them do other things with that scale.
For example, one of the things that I learned at Eastman are triplet scales. That is when you play your scales in triplets both slurring and triple tonguing. When you play them in triplets you are forced to go up and down the scale 3x in order to end with the beginning of a triplet. You then move into all forms of the relative minor scale slurring then triple tongue. In the end, with only the one major and it’s 3 relative minor scales you will have played 24 scales.
Now that’s interacting with a scale!
Triplet scales aren’t the only scale exercise out there. I love having students go through many exercises in Taffanel and Gaubert’s 17 Grand Exercises for the Flute. Numbers 1,2,4 and 5 are terrific for learning finger patterns and scales. Reichert 7 Daily Exercises, Moyse Daily Exercises for the Flute, etc. There are many great books out there.
Your job is to find a book that you can work with, that you will work with, and then use it. Use all the articulations that are given. Always have your metronome handy when practicing these scales – move up slowly.
Make these scale exercises a part of your day. Do them without fail every single day. This interaction with the key signature is the best and most productive way of learning your keys and advancing your technique.
Scales really do a body good.
DoctorFlute
Watch me demonstrate this:
FluteTips 35 Interact with Scales
How to Practice Triplet Scales
Practice with Me Triplet Scales
