Welcome to this lesson on strategies to learn scales the easy way.
In this video lesson we'll be going over how to learn and drill in scales in the fastest way possible.
I know the beginning of the video is a little dry, but it's important! After I give you the fundamentals, I'll give you a couple practice strategies to really ramp up your scale practicing (around the 4 minute mark).
Then at the 7 minute mark, I'll teach you the Quick Thumb Strategy, one of the most powerful scale practice techniques that I know of.
Key points from the lesson:
1. Make a scale sheet and set a goal BPM to play each scale at. Once you conquer a scale, cross it off the sheet. Once you cross off all the scales, you'll know your technique has made a huge improvement.
2. Use the correct fingering when you play scales. You can download the PDF with all the correct fingerings for the scales below.
3. Always play with accuracy over speed.
4. Use the “Added Note Strategy” and the “Quick Thumb Strategy” to learn scales fast and efficiently.
5. If you want more strategies like this, feel free to check out my Lightning Fast Piano Scales ebook. Note that the price has gone up to $4.99 since recording this video. You can find it here.
Advanced Scales Training
If ya got time for it, this video goes even more in-depth into scale development. But it's really long, so only watch it if you have an hour or so to spare! But if you just want that “get it done once and for all” type of video, it's the one for you:
PDFs
Harmonic Minor Scale Fingerings
Harmonic Minor Scales Cheat Sheet
2 Octave Major Scale Fingerings (advanced)
2 Octave Harmonic Minor Scale Fingerings (advanced)
Action Step:
Alright, time to add scales to your technique training. Do it for 5 minutes a day before you practice, every day.
Start really creating this habit for yourself. Just like brushing your teeth every night before you go to bed, do your technique before you play your pieces.
The Complete Technique Training Plan
Scales is one part of a complete training plan to build finger strength, coordination, dexterity, and flexibility. There are other drills that are needed for complete technique mastery.
If you want the full course on mastering Technique Fundamentals, I've created a Technique Mastery Course. It goes over the 10 minute “workout plan” to do every day before you practice. This lesson is actually taken straight out of the Beginner section of the course.
Once you master these scales and a couple other drills, there's also an Advanced section of the course to take your technique to that next level. You can find out more about the Technique Mastery Course here (Note: right now, the Project Captivate course comes bundled free, so you'll get access to both courses for the price of one!).
Oh, and if you're still within your first 7 days, don't forget to go through the link in the “Bonuses” page to get your 50% off discount.
-Zach
“I’m a Dutch “pupil” of yours. Just wanted to give you a big thanks and compliments for the lightning piano scales. You’ve managed to create insight and more importantly – motivation – for a subject I thought I was never going to tackle”
Joe G. – [PSH] Member #2441