Music Theory
Music is an art of language. Music theory is the study of the concepts and rules of language, and it is often described as the “rules or grammar” of music.
Understanding music theory has become an important foundation of musicians at all levels as it integrates the essential of music elements (including notation, key-signatures, time signature, scales, harmony and chord progression), that construction a piece of music with the theoretical (written/composition), performance (practical), history, philosophy and listening skills.
When we study music theory that provides insight how inner working of a piece of music construction and understand the meaning behind of a piece of music as a whole. We can control, connect and create music in different ways with deeper senses of appreciation and awareness – the sound (tone, colour,) shape, character to boost our performance with a greater joy.
“I wish I learned this sooner; it would have saved me so much time and effort!” By understanding music theory can help students make progress more quickly and efficiently. Music Theory is a magical tool to create us becoming more well-rounded musicians who can speak (perform), write (create), and read (interpret) music.
Some Benefits of Learning Music Theory
1. Learn smarter and faster
Understanding effectively of music theory of how music map is constructed help us to study smarter, speed up learning process and boost music performance.
For example, we learn smarter by analysing music form, melodic and harmonic structure with its variation reduces the amount of new learning material and become easier to perform from harmonic and thematic memory.
2. Accelerate reading comprehension skills
Learning music theory helps musicians to recognize patterns and structures in the music including rhythms, scales, chords and melodies. This knowledge makes them become fluent sight readers in music.
We have the ability to predict logical chords or recognise a series of notes in larger pattern when glancing ahead.
Reading individual letter D-O-G from the entire word DOG, similarly a phrase of notes from the chord.
3. A greater joy & develop appreciation
Music theory allow us to understand music elements and features which will deepen our abilities to express our ideas and emotions with sound exploration and express our ourselves with a greater joy and better appreciation while playing.
4. Spark Creativity & freedom
Music theory enable musicians to control, by choose the rules of music, create ideas with different melodies, scales, and chords and they can improvise and compose music with much greater freedom of various styles. For example, decide which notes to use in melodic phrase by using scale framework. Create more cohesive and logical sound to express their moods by understand harmonic substitution and choosing the right combination of instruments for a piece of music.
5. Communication and collaboration & time-saver
Learning music theory helps to communicate musically with other musicians and their teachers about musical concepts, sharing ideas in real time, a clear and concise communication, both in writing and in oral presentations. It saves times especially simplifying explanation when discussing, performing, or analysing a piece of music. This can help them to collaborate effectively and create more compelling musical performance.
Is Music theory difficult?
Music Theory is a vast and complex. I t can be challenging for some people who don’t have prior knowledge and learning experience. Like any subject, learning anything for the first-time can be difficult, but it will come easier with practice and persistence.
The process of learning music theory can be made easier and fun if you have a good music teacher who can make clear, concise and digestible concepts and provide support and encouragement when needed at each level of difficulty.
