I told my girlfriend today that I couldn't tell her what or how to learn, but that all of my knowledge and skill is the result of following my interests. When you follow a thread far enough, you eventually untangle the entire knot and see the thing as a whole. Music theory is very much like this. Practicing scales makes no sense without a certain perspective on music theory, but if you follow your interest in music you will eventually internalize melodic and harmonic patterns.
If you want to internalize melody and harmony, practicing scales is a (relatively) quick path. Improvisation does not happen by 'just playing', that is a joke. You can get there if you 'just play' for long enough, but Charlie Parker didn't reach his incredible level of skill by noodling around aimlessly. Woodshedding is vital to developing real chops. If you're interested in obtaining ability, you will wind up in some kind of formal practice eventually.
You can avoid intentional practice if you want - have fun noodling your way into a successful business or exceptional development skill.
Yeah. I'm not a great instrumentalist, but I feel comfortable picking up any instrument and playing - brass, woodwind, whatever. Guitar and keyboard are the only instruments I've actually studied, though.
If you want to internalize melody and harmony, practicing scales is a (relatively) quick path. Improvisation does not happen by 'just playing', that is a joke. You can get there if you 'just play' for long enough, but Charlie Parker didn't reach his incredible level of skill by noodling around aimlessly. Woodshedding is vital to developing real chops. If you're interested in obtaining ability, you will wind up in some kind of formal practice eventually.
You can avoid intentional practice if you want - have fun noodling your way into a successful business or exceptional development skill.