Teacher Tips: The Importance of Scales

Every musician knows of the importance of scales: they are the building blocks of music. However, most of us learn scales with the hope of leaving them behind and moving on to bigger and better things. Aspiring to play the most sublime pieces ever written is wonderful, but it is important to realize that we never grow-out of scales. Playing the correct notes is only the first step. Imagine the freedom you would have if you could play every scale with precise rhythm, stable intonation, and even meaningful phrasing. If scales are the building blocks of music, we had better make those blocks sublime in their own right. The next time your teacher assigns a scale or scale exercise, think about the ways in which you can make it sublime.

– Joseph Weber, Clarinet Artist-Faculty