A level of music theory I wish I possessed

[peteb]

 

 

[TimR]

1 hour ago, SumOne said:

You can apply Laws of Motion & Gravity and  conservation of Energy and the Theory of General Relativity and use data and evidence to explain how the Dog walks, but generally speaking - in scientific terms, you wouldn't say the Dog understands the theory of what it's doing - it doesn't comprehend how it works, just that it works.

 

Theory of Gravity is an excellent analogy with the dog and probably humans. Most of us know and understand the basic theory, all objects with mass, attract each other, and the attraction changes with distance and causes acceleration. 

 

No one is doing calculations in their head when they jump in the air, kids know why an apple falls downwards, we didn't previously to the 16th century. But we all know the rudimentary theory and whether we are consciously using it or not, we are still using it on some level.

 

Where the snobbery comes in is when someone says they have a degree in music and understand 18th century composers and that is music theory. 

 

Well I have a degree in engineering and understand a bit more about gravity due to additional learning, but we all agree it's not required to understand theories to a level higher than we need to, other than for interest. 

 

If you're writing your own music and you want to convey it to other musicians to play, you're going to need certain level, and in my experience, if someone isn't following normal theory when writing and expects musicians to follow, it can result with a lot of confusion. Things that sound 'off' because in theory they sound off, won't be easy to play. 

[chris_b]

You can talk without being able to write. Likewise you don't need to understand the rules of grammar in order to express yourself. But, know the rules and you'll be expressing yourself in more interesting ways. What you write and say is always enhanced by the extent of your vocabulary and your knowledge of grammar.

 

Same with music. Understanding theory reduces your limitations. You'd think the old blues guys knew no theory, but they did know the relationship between 1, 4 and 5 chords and 8, 12, 24 bar sequences, minor and major, 7th chords before a change to the 4 chord, so they did know enough theory to make their music work.

 

Knowing more and knowing why is always a good thing.

[TimR]

6 minutes ago, chris_b said:

You can talk without being able to write. Likewise you don't need to understand the rules of grammar in order to express yourself. But, know the rules and you'll be expressing yourself in more interesting ways. What you write and say is always enhanced by the extent of your vocabulary and your knowledge of grammar.

 

Indeed. "Me is wenting to the shops." Works in practice on a level, but you did originally learn the correct grammar, you just don't remember learning it or recognise it as using correct grammar.