The scales, chords and arpegios are fundamental skill for each pianist. The are drilled from early on for years. Most of the students hate them and try to avoid them, not practicing them at home. These fundamental movements are seen as waste of time, or as borring. But, what really they do for the hands and why good teachers so much insist on playing scales, chords and arpeggios in this same order?
Let see. Scales offer a step wise motion in a natural closed position of the hand which is not open/stretched, but just walking neighboring keys in order up and down the piano keyboard. Benefits: gently warms up the hands without any pressure or stretch, little use of fifth finger, promotes evenness of touch in sequence for all fingers. Done in two or more octaves the scale really smooths out the cross under and crossover movement of the hand. It is the basic of learning to play pleasantly melodies and long strings of legato notes without any bumps. Scales are only gentle warm up for the hand. Always start with scale.
Chord inversions: Slightly open hand, after it is a little warmed already. Work on coordination of three fingers, even sound, hand position pattern recognition, using the gravity to drop hand on three fingers instead of forcing them down. Let’s say it loud: Pianists play lots of chords. Don’t you want to be really good at them? Then warm up with chord inversions every time, instead of struggling every time you see them in the score. Makes sense??
Arpeggios: They require already well warmed hand and wrist. Arpegggios require wrists, do not overstretch your hands. Hand is slightly stretched but flexible and travels up and down together with the wrist. It travels!! Not being stiff and over-stretched! This is a common error I see over and over. The reason for it: bad understanding how arpeggios work and lack of practice. The motion is very complex and needs to be done correctly. It takes a longer time to master arpeggios, practicing always slow at first with flexible relaxed wrist. Remember: Hand and wrist travel, they are not stiff and overstretched!! Arpeggios always must be last in the order after scales and chord inversions. Can’t play well Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Chopin without being good at arpeggios, all types of arpeggios- major, minor, diminished, seventh-chords. How about the arpeggios inversions? Everything already said applys. Do not start your warm-up with arpeggios if you want to have healthy hands.
Are you still convinced that you should skip this warm-up routine? It is not only warm-up, it is saving your hands from injuries, and it gradually imroves your technique. It is win-win: Building technique while properly warming-up. So think again and start playing scales, chord inversions and arpeggios.
Happy practice and stay injury free!
© Nelly Matova@ Matova Music School 2025
Matova Music School 