[nhlx2]

Similar to grinding scales on a music instrument.

[klysm]

That feels different to me. Grinding scales helps with muscle memory and technique. There’s certainly aspects of that with math, especially with algebraic manipulations. Doing math problems can yield a deeper understanding of the underlying concepts and how they behave. Thinking you understand doesn’t cut it

[nhlx2]

Individual scales are concrete examples of diatonic scales, pentatonic scales etc.