'Music theory': the word brings an image of five straight lines, a nice design, hash tags, 'b' like signs, and most importantly, small structures having shape of an 'i' with a black ball, joined together. However, this is only a part of it. Music theory, like any other theory, is a field of study which seeks to describe how music works. It tends to explain what's happening by examining various patterns and structures found in musical pieces.
It always seems boring when pen and paper comes into something as artistic as music. Why explain it when you can simply go with the flow? After all, you can't make music by writing it; you have to be there, with your instrument or your throat. Why make something simple as that complicated?
Many have asked this question. The problem is, however, not the question, but the answer. Perhaps your perception will change if you can delve a bit into the theory of music, understanding what it is made of and what it actually does.
I'll start by saying this: music theory IS important. The explanations and the terms used provide us with a lot of insight why something sounds the way it sounds. As for the 'go with the flow'; it isn't simple as it sounds,, but a complex thing. Humans are, by nature, curious. The difference between past and present is, essentially, the knowledge of what's going on. Even if there was no such thing as 'music theory', you'd some day find patterns inside what you're playing and curse the world for being so dumb and not finding about it earlier.
Say, we're talking about a semitone. A person who is unknown to music theory will not know what a semitone is. You're jamming. Your friend tells you to go one semitone higher or lower. You just look at your friend, as if she said something totally alien. Then she will have to proceed to explain what a semitone is and finally you will be able to understand. But wouldn't it have been easier if you already knew about that in the first place?
This is a simple example providing one basic use of theory - to provide jargon. If someone says, "Play the triad of the A major instead of the tetrad, and diminish the fifth note", you'll be blank with a 'what-the-hell-did-you-just-say' expression unless you know what a triad, tetrad, and diminished note is. Which means if you know some theory. So I hope you get why theory is important in cases of reference.
Another use of music theory is recording music. Yes, yes, I know; why write it when you can record it on a recorder, or more efficiently, on a recording software. But, someone might want to cover it. Covering by listening is, of course, the best way to cover; but there are some songs which are, just by listening, quite difficult to cover. Also, people like to verify whether the piece they covered is right or not, in terms of notes and preciseness. In these situations, the written music comes in handy.
Theory also explains the science of music. How a harmony is produced, which chord of a major chord is a 'relative minor' and what does it do, or what is the key of a song; all these find an explanation. While composing, these come in handy; you're confused about what chord suits a piece or which notes to include in a composition, you turn to theory.
"But there are many musicians who do not know music theory at all. What about them?"
Even I asked this question. It is similar to saying, "Bill Gates never did MBA but still he was the CEO of Microsoft." What I mean is, theory simply explains what is there, and you can recognise it without learning it as well. Theory aids you in understanding, but does not give the essence of what is to be understood. It explains patterns and other insights, which can be found by repeated practice. It is, in some way, a short cut of sorts. The underlying statement is that theory is an aspect of music which is important but isn't necessary to make good music. That's why some musicians can do without theory as well.
Complications can also arise due to theory, especially in composition. Sometimes, the theoretical aspect gets you so engrossed that you fail to take into account your own playing style and what's best for music. It is to music what grammar is to writing. Some people become purists and always go for grammatically correct statements, even when the sentence sounds better with the incorrect statement. Something may be theoretically wrong, but if it feels good and sounds good, you should go for it rather than making it sound 'musically correct'. Theory can make you a bit of a 'purist', and it is always better to be wary of it.
However, most of the time theory aids in composition. Many times you get to explore an area of music because it's given in the theory, just to find out it sounds great. Your playing style can also increase its range when you know more of theory.
So, if someone asks if theory is important, I'll say 'yes'. But if someone asks if it is 'really important', I'll hesitate. Theory helps in providing jargon, and explains certain stuff, but it can also limit your originality and align you towards purism. The essence of music comes from the heart. So my advise would be to learn theory, even master it but don't let it control you.
It always seems boring when pen and paper comes into something as artistic as music. Why explain it when you can simply go with the flow? After all, you can't make music by writing it; you have to be there, with your instrument or your throat. Why make something simple as that complicated?
Many have asked this question. The problem is, however, not the question, but the answer. Perhaps your perception will change if you can delve a bit into the theory of music, understanding what it is made of and what it actually does.
I'll start by saying this: music theory IS important. The explanations and the terms used provide us with a lot of insight why something sounds the way it sounds. As for the 'go with the flow'; it isn't simple as it sounds,, but a complex thing. Humans are, by nature, curious. The difference between past and present is, essentially, the knowledge of what's going on. Even if there was no such thing as 'music theory', you'd some day find patterns inside what you're playing and curse the world for being so dumb and not finding about it earlier.
Say, we're talking about a semitone. A person who is unknown to music theory will not know what a semitone is. You're jamming. Your friend tells you to go one semitone higher or lower. You just look at your friend, as if she said something totally alien. Then she will have to proceed to explain what a semitone is and finally you will be able to understand. But wouldn't it have been easier if you already knew about that in the first place?
This is a simple example providing one basic use of theory - to provide jargon. If someone says, "Play the triad of the A major instead of the tetrad, and diminish the fifth note", you'll be blank with a 'what-the-hell-did-you-just-say' expression unless you know what a triad, tetrad, and diminished note is. Which means if you know some theory. So I hope you get why theory is important in cases of reference.
Another use of music theory is recording music. Yes, yes, I know; why write it when you can record it on a recorder, or more efficiently, on a recording software. But, someone might want to cover it. Covering by listening is, of course, the best way to cover; but there are some songs which are, just by listening, quite difficult to cover. Also, people like to verify whether the piece they covered is right or not, in terms of notes and preciseness. In these situations, the written music comes in handy.
Theory also explains the science of music. How a harmony is produced, which chord of a major chord is a 'relative minor' and what does it do, or what is the key of a song; all these find an explanation. While composing, these come in handy; you're confused about what chord suits a piece or which notes to include in a composition, you turn to theory.
"But there are many musicians who do not know music theory at all. What about them?"
Even I asked this question. It is similar to saying, "Bill Gates never did MBA but still he was the CEO of Microsoft." What I mean is, theory simply explains what is there, and you can recognise it without learning it as well. Theory aids you in understanding, but does not give the essence of what is to be understood. It explains patterns and other insights, which can be found by repeated practice. It is, in some way, a short cut of sorts. The underlying statement is that theory is an aspect of music which is important but isn't necessary to make good music. That's why some musicians can do without theory as well.
Complications can also arise due to theory, especially in composition. Sometimes, the theoretical aspect gets you so engrossed that you fail to take into account your own playing style and what's best for music. It is to music what grammar is to writing. Some people become purists and always go for grammatically correct statements, even when the sentence sounds better with the incorrect statement. Something may be theoretically wrong, but if it feels good and sounds good, you should go for it rather than making it sound 'musically correct'. Theory can make you a bit of a 'purist', and it is always better to be wary of it.
However, most of the time theory aids in composition. Many times you get to explore an area of music because it's given in the theory, just to find out it sounds great. Your playing style can also increase its range when you know more of theory.
So, if someone asks if theory is important, I'll say 'yes'. But if someone asks if it is 'really important', I'll hesitate. Theory helps in providing jargon, and explains certain stuff, but it can also limit your originality and align you towards purism. The essence of music comes from the heart. So my advise would be to learn theory, even master it but don't let it control you.
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