Music Theory Information
Music Theory Facts
Within the musical community, there is a debate about the value of music theory that will probably never ends. Is it important to study music
theory scales, or is it much better to just dive into the music and experience it viscerally. The proponents of learning the theory regarded it
as an essential part of knowing how to play music. You can learn by trial and error, they say, but you would do much better to benefit from the
knowledge of other people. Not learning music theory when you play music is like refusing to learn arithmetic when you are studying math.
The other side, however, has just a strong of an argument. They claim that music theory worksheets are stifling. The point of music, they
argue, is creativity. You should dive into it and experience it viscerally. Learning the theory of music too early on can stifle the imagination.
Although it is alright to learn musictheory chords later on, it is much less important than having some experience actually playing music.
Music Theory Tips
I used to be on the latter site, but I have recently switched opinions. You see, I learned music without musictheory. I didn't even know music
colors theory, much less the more formal and rigorous stuff. To me, you see, playing music was almost a physical experience. I could feel the
sounds and textures around me. I didn't really need someone telling me what the structures meant. I could tell what they meant with my entire
soul.
As I have matured as a musician, however, I have seen the use and the need for music theory. I have even begun to use music theory
worksheets, and I hope to understand it pretty thoroughly within the next couple years. You see, the most important thing about theory is that it
gives you a good vocabulary to talk about music.
I believe that you can learn to play anything without music theory. What you can not do, however, is to talk to other people about it. If you
don't know the names of the chords, the different scales and progressions, and the rhythmic patterns that define various forms of music, how can
you tell other musicians what you want? Learning about music is almost as important as learning language if you really want to collaborate with
other people. Without it, it is very difficult to express yourself and ask people for what you want. Why make life difficult?
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