The Value of Music Theory

I wanted to back pedal a little and report that, despite the nervously adamant nature of my last post, that yes, I do understand the value of music theory. The funniest, realistic way which I can prove this, is that I have noticed that the jobbing musicians who get paid to play music know music theory. The rambling indie rockers begging for gas money on tour don't. I see this like the light shining from a 100 watt bulb. 

Music theory has a commercial value. Audiences who pay for tickets are often paying to hear people who have studied music formally (not always but often). Those who know music theory can also be hired to do things which mere mortal musicians cannot, ranging from producing, arranging, transcribing, and/or teaching. 

There are definitely exceptions to this, from days of yore to today, where music that does not have an academic backbone, or even an academic pinky bone, appeals to the masses and audiences far more than belabored academic music. 

What I am trying to cull out then, is how can music theory be applied in a practical way? I suppose even my musical comrads who are deep into music theory would be interested, so let's explore it briefly.

To this end, let's call "music theory" the "study of music" as I am using the term to refer to an academic study of music.

• Studying music needs to be rooted in the core of musical curiousity.
• Studying music is all about listening.
• Studying music is all about proclaiming what gets you excited.
• Studying music is all about embracing what intrigues you.
• Studying music is realizing the path is long.
• Studying music is realizing it's not as hard as you thought.

The dangers of formally studying music (rah-hah-hah): yes there are some:

• You think you know more than you do.
• You get cocky.
• You want to tell others how to approach music.
• You are full of the illusion of knowledge.
• You start using your brain more than your ears.
• You are parlyzed when you don't have guardrails.
• You get frustrated.

All of these are a false sense of knowledge, or a false sense of inadequacy. What a roller coaster. 

The challenge is to find natural curiousity and a teacher able to see it. But, that's just a theory!

I will keep you updated, dear reader, on my journey to find that balance between the magic of music and the method.

Image soure: here.

Bubble Wrapped in Music Theory

I have a new equation to share, something along the lines of the more money you have to spend on music lessons, the longer and more complicated music theory becomes. Sadly, music theory, while being handy in some cases, is also the biggest racket known to music lessons.

Through experience of taking lessons with multiple teachers, and doing research online watching videos where people talk about music theory, please allow me to wave my hand and clear the fog.

Music theory is only a small part of what is called music theory. Most of music theory is music facts.

The difference is this: 

Music theory is analyzing. It's deciding whether to call a chord a certain name based on the root note, or based on the key it's in, for example. The "theory" part comes in when a chord can go by multiple names. It's kind of like calling a color orange-red, or red-orange. It's just what you call it. The notes are still the notes. Music theory is a way of looking at music after its been written or played. It's a lens. It's a way of looking.

The word "theory" makes it sound like a scientific principle is at work, but in music theory, the word theory just means "subjective." Looking at chords a certain way can help a composer or help a player navigate a piece of music, but nothing in music theory is about facts. Which leads is to...

Music facts are the common vocabulary and agreed-on vocabulary used in written music. C is C. D is D. A certain string of intervals is an Ionian mode. These are not theories! These are facts and vocabulary of things that everyone has to agree on. If C wasn't C, then sheet music would be pointless. Everyone needs to agree what a C note is. There are tons of facts, and not a single one of them is a theory! It took me awhile to separate these two things. Knowing the vocabulary of music helps to communicate with other musicians, and it helps explore the fretboard (or explore the full range of whatever instrument you play). 

Music theory is often seen as a mysterious, complicated thing, but it's not. It's just a bunch of facts, and a tiny bit of analyzation thrown in on top. I've learned not to let the intimidation of the hardest parts of music theory stop me from just hopping, skipping and jumping through simply learning the music facts. Facts are just something to learn step by step. Like all the other facts we know.

I've heard that there was an idea in classical music that students would learn yards of music theory before being allowed to touch their instrument. In a context where that makes sense, great, but I am not going to be bubble wrapped in music theory, I think I'll just hit the street with the facts--it's much cheaper that way.

Image source: here