14 Tips to Help You Fall in Love with Scales :)

September 20, 2013 at 7:50 PM

My first introduction to scales on the violin was when I was maybe 11 years old – Mind you 2 years after I started the violin, with the Carl Flesch inch and a half scale book. My stand couldn't even hold the book up. I HATED that book. I hated practicing the book – I hated going to my lessons knowing that we were going to practice from the book. I felt like a horrible violinist, that I had horrible intonation. It seriously was dreadful for me.

So I have been there...I completely understand the hatred for scales.

But over time and exploration on my own violin journey I was able to return to the same book, granted it had fallen apart at that point and I had to buy a new one, but I returned to those Carl Flesch scales with love.

Yes... with love....

How did it happen...what caused the transformation?

I don't know the exact turning point but I do know that through my journey I learned other ways to approach scales and incorporate them into my practice that seemed almost meditative and healing for myself. When I saw the results of practicing the scales with a different approach I was immediately hooked.

I rediscovered all of the scales in all the keys major and minor from 1 to 3 octaves. My relationship to pitches changed and how I would hear the pitches. How I incorporated the scales into my practice routine changed. Instead of just practicing scales because I knew I had to – I used them as piece strengtheners. Also after I broke my wrist scales were therapy for my to get playing again.

Here are 14 tips to help change your attitude towards scales to help violinists on all levels:

*Be Present – I had a colleague of mine said he went through all of the major scales in 15 minutes while watching the news every morning. Hey if it works for him great but really I think it is a very good idea to be present.

*Listen to every pitch – You may think well duh...that's a no brainer. Let me explain. Don't listen to the pitch in relation to the previous pitch – know exactly what pitch you are playing and treat it as it's own identity. This way you are less likely to have your whole scale go relatively sharp or flat in pitch.

*Isolate all shifts – break down the shifts in scales one not before to one note after. Then 2 notes before and 2 notes after. When shifting be sure to practice shifting fast even in slow passage work because practicing shifting slow all the time without practicing shifting fast does not help you when you put your scales, or anything for that matter, to a faster tempo. Don't forget to practice the shifts in both directions.

*Think not only going up and down the instrument but Across the instrument – I don't know about you but this was a revolutionary concept to me when it was first presented. I always thought of only going up or down the instrument not across.

*Hold your fingers down – this is really the basic first step to playing any scale. This in and of itseld solves so many intonation issues.

*Use your fingers as guides – know how each finger relates to the next.

*Practice with your eyes closed – Truly block everything else out and get that ear turned on!!

*Practice in front of the mirror – watch yourself (when you are not practicing with your eyes closed.) Scales are a great way to check posture, bowing, bow hold, straight bows. Good way to keep youself in check.

*Stop when you hear an out of tune note – Stop IMMEDIATELY!!!! Don't go further. One out of tune note sets a bad foundation for everything that happens after. Save yourself some time – this is why being present is so important – and STOP!!!! go from the note before and practice 10 times perfect before moving on.

*Practice with confident fingers – If you practice your scales with hesitant fingers it is not doing you any good. Play those fingers with confidence and strength. Come down to the fingerboard like little hammers even in slow passages. It is better to come down with strength to an out of tune note and fix with strength and confidence than with hesitation.

*Practice keys that match your current repertoire – For example before practicing Brahms d minor violin sonata practice a 3 octave d minor scale.

*Practice with out vibrato first to solidify intonation and then practice with vibrato. Use scales as your own personal workout room so to say for all the techniques needed for your current pieces. Dynamics, vibrato, rhythms, bowings... the list goes on.

*Create your own scale routine to match your current practice routine.

*Start at the top of the scale come down and then go back up – This was presented to me when I studied scales on the piano. Coming down on the piano was more difficult than going up – it seems the same for some students on the violin as well. So my piano teacher told me to start down than up and It helped tremendously. Whatever you practice first – your brain is usually turned on more (unless it is 6:00 in the morning :) ) Apply the same to pieces and etudes – struggling 5 lines in? Don't start from the beginning – start where you have a problem.

Easy, simple and yet so effective and enjoyable!!

I promise you will see results incorporating these tips into your scale practice.

Want to learn how to play all the major scales in under 3 minutes? Register for my Online Violin Scales Class - Violin Scales That Will Rock Your Violin World September 25, at 12:00 CST.

Register here for your Free Violin Class - Violin Scales That Will Rock Your Violin World

Have fun Practicing Scales!

Heather Broadbent, Holistic Violinist
Founder of Online Violin and Creator of Violin Fitness and Violin Secrets Academy