What use is theory to you?

[Gryvix]

I personally don't have much use of musictheory, since I've just grown it, I learn by trial and error. I find it more fun that way, on finding the right chords to get that feeling or such. I just do things automatically.
oh and paralel fifths, I got one wich sounds nice. the guy I showed it to, didn't believe me till he played it.
It's different than most music today, but in the middle-ages they had this kinda music too.

[Mrsix]

I dont know any music theory, so I guess me being here is completely pointless as I have nothing to add!

However, I wish to learn. I dont think I will use it in day-to-day life, but it is a goal, and I like to learn a new skill.

I can pretty much recreate what I hear in my head musically, so Ive never had to learn... but obviously, if I buy a "How to play all the tunes you've ever wanted to!" piano book then i'm pretty buggered, and it's infuriating

[reith]

Originally Posted by Mrsix

I dont know any music theory, so I guess me being here is completely pointless as I have nothing to add!

However, I wish to learn. I dont think I will use it in day-to-day life, but it is a goal, and I like to learn a new skill.

I can pretty much recreate what I hear in my head musically, so Ive never had to learn... but obviously, if I buy a "How to play all the tunes you've ever wanted to!" piano book then i'm pretty buggered, and it's infuriating

It's worth the thought. Once you acquire some knowledge, it will help with controlling what you're doing and arriving at results a little faster.
Trouble is, today's text books seem so waffly and not always focused.
I'm thinking of Taylor's books for the Associated Boards. I started learning harmony in my pre-teens from some ancient books by Kitson, picked up for almost nothing in a second-hand bookshop!
Later I learned species counterpoint (that aimed to teach polyphony as a procedure to people with little musical training) and wished I'd learned harmony through that route.

But you don't have to think in those terms at the beginning. Learning how scales are constructed and building triads is a useful start.

Reith.

[MaestroX]

Originally Posted by Mrsix

I dont know any music theory, so I guess me being here is completely pointless as I have nothing to add!

However, I wish to learn.

When time allows I will be writing some harmony and counterpoint guides for the music encylopedia :wink:

[stevel]

Originally Posted by reith

Does anyone have views on how important learning theory is to composition. By theory I mean the stuff beyond the rudiments; so include voice-leading (as I believe it's called in America; harmony in the UK, usually starting with 4-part); counterpoint; figured bass... I'm not sure there is a theory of orchestration/arranging.

I had to 'obey the rules' during academic years but they pertain to quite narrow periods of music and while I haven't dispensed with them completely, I've found that a knowledge of theory has several benefits
- writing tidily (like, not leaving notes just hanging there)
- acutely improved aural skills,
- balance and chord layout,
- being more in control over the process of composition, like an awareness of what one is doing.

And similar...

How does theory sit with you?

I think that "Theory" is one of the worst words they could have come up with. Theory is usually taught academically as Rudiments, and Rules. But Theory is really just a set of stylistic commonalities we can use to discuss music.

I do think you use "theory" when writing music every time you construct a C major chord, or write a Key Signature. Orchestration/Arranging - yes, it has its own "theory" if you like - "rules" for distributing members of a chord to get a "dark" sound, or a "brash" sound, etc.

I am a theory instructor at a university. Obviously when discussing music it's nive to be able to say "then he modulated to the dominant" and then everyone who's studied the same set of parameters you have will understand what you mean. So there's that part of it.

But when I write music I don't necessarily follow any arbitrary "rules" per se. I don't use "theory" to write the music. I might use theoretical knowledge to find solutions to artistic problems - like I might say, hey, if I want a "dreamy" sound a whole-tone scale might work well here, and so on.

I think your last statement hits it on the head - it does give you an awareness of what you're doing, and your music then tends to come out with confidence, rather than just sounding like noodling around or a bunch of disconnected ideas.

Best,
Steve

[Thorolf]

I agree completely, stevel!

Theory is summing up observations, nothing more. And as I suggested, you can observe yourself, and find your own personal patterns, and if they happen to be at odds with conventional theory, make your own rules!



Regards