on practicing scales

Mike - I mentioned on my stidh Blog today that I was going to use
Hanon and scales in preparing to study the Rach 3.

Well - I started playing Scales today - Mike - and I see that the thing for
me to do - all this week - is to work on variations of Scale Study.

For one thing  - I once collected 7 quotes about Playing Scales - from
different pianists/composers:

~Van Cliburn - For the first 10 minutes I play scales, slowly.
Listen to the sounds you make.  The sound of each tone will
generate a response in you.  It will give you energy.

~Carl Czerny - Do you ask me how good a player you will become?
Then tell me how much you practice ce the scales.

~Josef Hofmann - I consider the practice of scales important not only for the fingers,
but also for the discipline of the ear with regard to the feeling of
tonality (key), understanding of intervals, and the comprehension of
the total compass of the piano.

~Jan Paderewski - Give special study to passing the thumb under the hand and
passing the hand over the thumb.  This makes the practice of scales and arpeggios
indispensable.

~Arthur Rubinstien - Scales should never be dry.  If you are not interested in them,
work with them until you do become interested in them.

~Sergei Rachmaninoff - I believe this matter of insisting upon a thorough technical
knowledge, particularly scale playing, is a very vital one.  The mere ability to play a
few pieces does not constitute musical proficiency.

~Robert Schumann - You must diligently practice all scales.


Mike - I not only know who all of these pianists/composers are - but I completely
understand their advice about scales - and some of them I can relate through from
my past study of piano.

That is why I have decided to use Scales this next week - as I officially begin
to study the Rach 3.

We'll see what happens.

Thanks - Mike