I'm relatively new to learning the piano, though this has been a point of confusion since day one.
So, I started out with C Major and everything was going fine. I got the finger motions down, I was good with the overall technique, then I began to wonder: "What's the purpose of this?"
I went to the Internet for answers, and found a truly horrifying answer - One I had wished wasn't true, a single answer I've yet to see repeated elsewhere, but uncertainty is always present. Apparently, alongside the facts that many classical pieces utilize scales and it's a good finger exercise, someone suggested that you have to memorize each key pressed in the correct order per sequence.
My conclusion:
There are twelve scales (7 major, 5 minor) (12 major AND 12 minor as I'm told, ignore the incorrect math following), each consisting of twelve keys - "96" keys in total. Then, you must also mentally overcome the same feat with your less dominant hand, essentially doubling the amount you must commit to memory. At one point you'll be expected to do this quickly, with both hands, sometimes with separate scales, and possibly backwards. It begins to sound like an entirely separate skill than actually playing the piano.
It sounds like a form of torture conceived by the devil himself - To punish the most wicked, corrupt soul for committing crimes our mortal minds cannot comprehend.
Now, I understand knowledge of scales aren't required to actually "play" the piano, but I wish to learn properly and everything seems to suggest that "scales" (Vague scales - We mustn't elaborate!) are the one of the most important things to pick up.
I'm thinking this may be like math and me - I'm really good at it as far as knowing the techniques and all, but I've always had I hard time seeing the raw math behind it (WHY does the distance formula work?).
So, in technique and practice, is it actually required that you "train" to the point where you become mentally aware that you're pressing "C D E F G A B C - C B A G F E D C", or is it just a finger/mental exercise?
I've always wanted to compose my own music - Understand the logic behind it. I'd be willing to go through this potentially traumatizing experience if I must. I want to fully grasp every aspect of it, it's something I love.