I have blogged about scales before (you can read my blogs here and here) because they are such an important element in playing the piano. There are those who can’t bear the thought of spending time practising them, but they really don’t have to be viewed in this manner. Vlog 19 offers a few more tips and some reasons why scales will only benefit your piano playing.
Publications
Melanie Spanswick has written and published a wide range of courses, anthologies, examination syllabuses, and text books, including Play it again: PIANO (published by Schott Music). This best-selling graded, progressive piano course contains a large selection of repertoire featuring a huge array of styles and genres, with copious practice tips and suggestions for every piece.
For more information, please visit the publications page, here.
Melanie Spanswick 
I never used to view scales as remotely boring. I used to really enjoy doing scales, probably because I was c**p at sight reading, but now rather ironically I can only remember about three or four scales single octave whereas before I did grade 3 I was doing all that grades’ scale requirement, and in double octave as well. Scales are the building blocks of music, and probably the reason why the piano is truly king of the instruments in terms of available keys.
can`t play, won`t play – it appears that you spend too much time being negative about such piano related threads! Not doing something generally results in forgetting/getting rusty. I am sure this lady posts these threads with positivity and that is really how tweeters should respond. Brilliant article btw – I like scales even though I know only a few!
So glad you like my posts – thank you so much for reading 🙂
Dan – what’s negative about posting about enjoying doing scales?
I used to really enjoy doing scales, probably because I was c**p at sight reading, but now rather ironically I can only remember about three or four scales single octave whereas before I did grade 3
No one needs to hear about your sight reading or how you cannot remember scales!
I have seen some of your other comments and they are very negative, read her tweets and be positive or say nowt. PLEASE!!!! USe your real twitter name and stop with the cant play wont play negativity
Dan – I am merely expressing an opinion, such is my right to do in a democracy. All I am saying is purely from personal experience of spending six or so years attempting to learn the piano and saying ‘well, the notion of being not too old or too c**p to play the piano is false’. Disagreeing I think it’s called, and Dan, if you’re not happy with people putting alternative viewpoints or debate, might I suggest a move to communist North Korea or something??? CPWP.
For the record, I actually enjoy Mel’s posts. I find them to be very informative and enlightening. I still wish I could play the pianoand, if I hadn’t had so many bad experienceswith teachers etc. I’d be still playing instead of wishing.
I have seen your youtube links you posted on a forum recently and you were sounding good – working towards an exam? so if you want sympathy and the “argh poor bloke/gal” then find a platform elsewhere please. I`ll find the link of your playing and upload it tomorrow so everyone knows you CAN play and for some random reason you claim “I`d be still playing”