Of course, once I was old enough to practice unsupervised, I happily avoided scales as often as I could get away with it. Like eating my broccoli and sprouts, it was something that I knew would be good for me, but I wasn’t sure exactly why.
It wasn’t until I was in my 20’s, that the lights went on, and I discovered why I should have been practicing scales all along.
So why are scales and etudes worth our time?
6 comments:
I used to be very musically inclined and I would always avoid doing my scales because I thought they were boring and pointless. I still hate scales, but I can appreciate the usefulness of scales and why they are necessary in music. The fact that the girl could effortlessly play her scales made my jaw drop. I’ve been playing the violin for 11 years, and the piano for 7, and I still cannot effortlessly play scales. Scales are incredibly hard because they are meant to train your fingers and brain at the same time. I see how this correlates to building a foundation for all of your work which will then allow you to succeed in life and your future, but I will still say the same thing I have always said: I hate scales. I know it’s wrong, but I hate building the foundation I need in order to succeed, but I think most people do. It’s a problem that all people deal with and get past.
For years I hated playing scales. I would go up and down the key, going from simple keys to more complex ones thinking that this was useless. But when I walked into my lessons, those were the biggest things we worked on. My teacher would scold me more for missing a scale or playing out of key than she would on the piece of music she assigned for the week. The reason scales are so important is that it allows you to concentrate on the sound and the physical playing of your instrument rather than the actual music on the page. In that moment, your focus is on your technique. I started liking scales when I started timing myself playing. With a busy schedule, I didn't get to practice much, and I wanted to get one to better things, like my homework. I told myself that I would play for 20 minutes a day. I thought I was "working the system" by using half that time to practice scales, but it actually dramatically improved my playing. Although I would come in to rehearsal only mostly knowing the music, I was able to keep up with a focused sound and smoother technique.The basics build the master, and that's what I'll say on that subject.
During my first semester in acting with Barbara, she described the etudes we were working on, tactic charades, Before the Door, endowment of objects, yes and no improvisations, as working on our scales. Before we could go to the Olympics of Shakespeare, we needed to strengthen our fundamentals. It is only now, when we are starting to employ all of the lessons we learned first semester into bigger projects, that I can understand the importance of exercising your basic skills. I started taking piano lessons at the age of six, and my teacher would always urge me to practice my scales. I, the antsy young girl I was, refused. I strongly regret this now: though I can read a piece of music if given enough time, I know that if I had worked my scales more, I’d be able to play the piano keyboard as easily as breathing.
54101A, Andrew Smith Acting I, Kate Rosenberg
Sheesh. I agree and am guilty. The fundamentals of your craft are the test of mastery. As a freshman scrub, it is tempting to dismiss certain activities and chalk it up to being easy enough to not practice or "not how I work" but these activities make up the scenes and plays we are seeking to do for a living. It is easy to be frustrated at your final product and think it is a problem with your partner, or the text, or the mood you're in, or whatever. But the battle is already lost because fundamentals are lacking. The true test of consistently good product is the mastery of the process. 54-102 <54-102>
Post a Comment