Musical Theory - Do I Need to Know It?

Aside from the academic study of music theory, which explores the theories surrounding music issues, such as whether or not a piece of music fits into one category or another, music theory is really the nuts and bolts of music.

It's the way that music is composed, and performed. Whether you are thinking about musical harmony, the way a concerto is orchestrated, and even the simple basics of how to read music, then you're thinking about aspects of musical theory.

The first question that many people just starting out on their music journey often ask is "Do I really need to know this stuff?" The answer depends on what you want to do with your music. There are many successful recording artists who can't read music never mind distinguish a symphony from a sonata. This implies that you don't need to have any knowledge of music theory in order to be a successful musician.

However musicians who can do this to a great level are few and far between. Even if you are pitch perfect and can compose and play a piece of music entirely from memory, you can't easily share this music with others unless they have similar skills.

Music theory allows musicians from all backgrounds to come together on a level playing field. Each of them understand the piece of music in front them. They know what key it is to be played in - vital if they want to create harmonies. They know what time it's in so that they can get the beat right. The composer will have noted on the music manuscript how the piece is to be played - terminology that means slowly, softly, "with gusto" and so on.

Those who compose understand the common music forms and by understanding the range of each instrument are able to combine different combinations of instruments playing harmoniously together. They know the instruments to work with for the kind of music they are composing, and can compose both melody and base lines that sound right whether played independently or together.

If you have a good ear for music and know the fundamentals of how your musical instrument works, then you may have no use for music theory. On the other hand, if you want to compose music that you'd like to share with other musicians, if you want to play with other musicians in an orchestra or band, or if you want to be able to play a piece of music that someone else has composed and you haven't heard played, then some basic understanding of music theory is required.

Imagine that you can look at any music score and instantly be able to sight-read it, which means you could sit down with your instrument and by reading and understanding the notations made by the composer you are able to play that piece of music in the way that the composer intended. With little more than a basic knowledge of music theory, such as being able to read music and understand some simple, common musical terms, you could do that. Even if that's not a skill you would use often, as a musician, isn't it a skill you'd like to have?

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Beginner Music Theory Lesson for Piano Students: Music Terms and How to Read Sheet Music Symbols

For the beginner in piano music, what do all those foreign words and strange symbols mean on your sheet music? And does it matter?

Ritardando? Da Capo al Coda? Acciaccatura?

People from earliest times decorated their bodies and their dwellings, and worked designs on their implements in order to make them more attractive to use or just for pleasure in their leisure time. We still have the same desires today.

So too, throughout the ages, ornamentation has played an important part in increasing our enjoyment in listening to music in its many forms. Decorations for melodies have been found way back in Gregorian music (c. 540 - c. 604 AD) and in the music of the Middle Ages (500 - 1450 AD). Ornaments were prominent in keyboard music in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and further embellishments, not written on the scores, were no doubt added by the singers.

If you aim for excellence in your piano music, being able to understand musical terms, symbols and ornaments will help you to follow written music more accurately, play with correct timing and expression, and add attractive ornamentation. This will bring an entirely new dimension to your music!

So what do all those Italian words and symbols mean? Let's look at a few examples!

Musical Terms

Musical terms tell you all about the speed, loudness and other qualities of your music.

For example, 'Ritardando' tells the musician to play this section gradually slower and slower. 'Ritardando' may be abbreviated as 'ritard.' or 'rit.'. It is an Italian term derived from the word meaning 'to retard'.

Musical Symbols

Musical symbols tell you everything you need to know about written music from the staff itself to accents, repeats and pedal signs. For example, a common symbol seen on popular piano music is the Coda symbol. This symbol, along with the words, 'Da Capo al Coda', tells you when to play the various parts of your song.

'Da Capo al Coda' is normally abbreviated as 'D.C. al Coda'. This Italian phrase means literally, 'From the beginning (or head) to the tail'.

A section of music at the end of the score will be marked with the word 'CODA'. There will also be two places in the music marked with Coda symbols, each shaped like an oval with a '+' written over it.

When you reach the words, 'D.C. al Coda', in the music, return to the beginning of the music and play through until you reach the first Coda symbol along with the words, 'To Coda'. Jump from that place in the music directly to the section at the end of the score marked with 'CODA' and the second Coda symbol. Continue playing to the end of this section.

Ornaments

Ornaments are attractive decorations for your music.

For example, the 'Acciaccatura' or 'crushing note' is a very short accented note, played just before (or sometimes simultaneously with) the main note and instantly released. It is written as a miniature quaver note with a short oblique line through the hook of the quaver.

'Acciaccatura' is an Italian expression meaning 'a crushing'. It makes a pretty decoration in a melody.

About the Author:

Betty Wagner of Music With Ease has been teaching music for over 30 years. Her unique multimedia ebooks make learning to play the piano fun, easy and surprisingly affordable. Music With Ease has produced a comprehensive List of Sheet Music Symbols. This glossary and two free piano chord charts are included as bonuses with Betty's ebook on piano chords for the beginner. You can also learn all about beginner piano scales with unique easy-to-read scale charts and fingering tips in Betty's music scales ebook. Or master those tricky ledger notes with ease: http://www.musicwithease.com/read-ledger-line-notes.html

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Music Education Theory

Music education is a concept mainly dealing with the employment of education methods in teaching and learning music. There is a theory behind every concept, which underlines a principle.

Music education theory is the basis for either teaching or learning music. Basically, music education theory is a study of the elements or rudiments of music. As we know, music consists of certain basic elements, which should be studied before proceeding further. A pre-requisite to learning is that the matter of study should be interesting and any drabness associated with it should be alleviated first.

The music education theory helps in standardizing music as a field of study. This is useful to maintain a minimum standard for music so that it gains due recognition than just a hobby.

Moreover, music education theory explains the rudiments of music clearly so that the foundation is strong for a learner of music. Only if a learner is strong in the basics, will he or she be in a position to appreciate music.

Another utility of music education theory is that it guides a user to apply the correct form at the right place. The theory can be applied to any function, like composing, singing, playing an instrument, reviewing and more.

Audiation is an area of music where the listener does not listen to the music at the surface level. It refers to the function of grasping the exact meaning of the words and also analyzing what the music conveys and why the song written in such a way. It is a deep-rooted study, applying the music theory.

Prior to the establishment of a standard or theory, music was learned either by rote or listening by ear. The religious Psalms were among the first songs to be learned through these methods.

Music theory helps you in understanding and appreciating the fineness of music by thoroughly learning its theoretical elements like sound, pitch, harmony, melody, notation, and rhythm.

Music Education [http://www.e-MusicEducation.com] provides detailed information on Music Education, Benefits Of Music Education, Music Education Theory, Child Music Education and more. Music Education is affiliated with Piano Sheet Music [http://www.z-SheetMusic.com].

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The Benefits Of Learning Music Theory

That's music to my ear is a common phrase used to express a person's emotional response to how a particular tune can make them feel. Some people listen to music all the time. Some study the art of playing an instrument. It's therapeutic; it's enriching; it's a way of creating moods in any environmental setting. If you are interested in music for more than the pure enjoyment people get out of listening to it, then learning about music theory is an ideal mode for you.

Music theory can be an important attribute in a person's life, for many reasons. People often ask, "Is music theory necessary?" "Why do we need it?"

First of all, even though you don't have to understand how to read sheet music to perform as a musician, you will need an understanding of music theory. It opens so many other doors for you in the world of music. Music theory will not show you how to understand music, but with music theory you will be able to communicate musical ideas, explore music in whole new ways, and redefine the tremendous scope that entails the magical world of music.

Music theory allows you to voice your opinion with others in the field, expand your musical horizon. Give a little input to a fellow musician and you'll get something in return.

Notations And Communicating With Other Musicians

Music lovers all develop a keen sense of awareness, musically speaking. Sometimes, musicians explain that if they study music theory, then it'll stunt their creativity. Wrong! The world's greatest composers were all masters of music theory: Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, J.S. Bach. These experts composed a keen understanding of the theoretical concepts. Years were spent studying the concept, down to some of the smallest details.

Music can be played by ear, picking out tunes without the aid of written music. Your ears can be your guide. The reason this is brought to light is that some musicians with strong theoretical training often disregard the art of playing by ear.

Think of playing music by ear this way: We're all born as non-verbal creations. Communication begins with crying, making sounds, displaying body language. Parents quickly become experts on baby talk. It's an innate sense. Over time, language develops by mimicking sounds. Toddlers don't learn nouns and verbs; they learn to speak by example. Music can be the same way. Hence, the reason so many people pay top dollar for live performances. It's invigorating, magical.

Understanding Harmony And Chord Progression

Chord progression and harmony, two features of music theory, help broaden any musician, regardless of their genre of study. Chord progression is a series of chords that are used to harmonize music. All compositions use chord progression. Those that improvise - which, as already mentioned, adds charm and magic to the environment of music - invent brand new melodies that blend in with an existing chord. It's a musical transition, something that must be practiced, repeatedly. The great composers and musicians develop chord progressions and transitions until it becomes natural, a second-natured maneuver.

If a musician improvises in a more interconnected manner, these new melodies show the musician the progression as one whole unit, and not a series of bumpy transitions. The more practice that goes into this aspect of music learning theory, the more interesting substitutions they will develop along the way. Once the concept of chord progression and its structure is understood, it will be easier to remember. Jazz musicians, therefore, show a keen interest in the study and analysis of chord progression.

The study of music theory will show musicians and musical scholars that the objective, initially, is not to consider an entire composition in one sitting. Instead, musicians, students and teachers alike, view a chord progression in segments, or units. These units correspond to musical sections known as stanzas.

A stanza is the complete statement and development of a single musical idea. It's a fairly simple act of dividing pieces into small manageable sections, with the melody itself forming, or suggesting the boundaries for sound.

Tonality, another element of chord progression, means different things to different people. Some would consider it to be this: any piece of music with a well-defined key center. Others envision any music that uses the conventional chords as tonal.

Music without the use of chords in a functional manner to reinforce a tonal center is not tonal. It is referred to as non-tonal music. The names of these styles are not always agreed upon between musical connoisseurs. But expressing difference is one key element that makes music such a beautiful art form, with countless possibilities.

So, if you are considering studying music, be it to play an instrument, teach music, or simply hone in on personal curiosity, learning music theory is a must for you.

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development.

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What Is Music Theory? FAQs

1) What is music theory?

Music theory is the language of musical construction. Those who understand the language of music, those who can read and write music are called musicians. Just as people who share a common language communicate everyday, musicians communicate through a common musical language.

The language musicians communicate in is not by speaking but rather by the use of sheet music. Sheet music contains information that allows musicians to play the same piece of music on their instruments regardless of which language they speak. People all around the world communicate through the language of music and that is why music is called the universal language.

2) Do I need to know music theory in order to play a musical instrument?

This is a tricky question and the answer is yes and no. Allow me to explain. If some noise or sound has rhythm, a melody, and harmony, it can be called music. Without these components it is simply noise or organized noise.

A musician, someone who understands music theory and is able to communicate in the language of music, will compose a piece of music and know what they are doing and why they are doing it. A musician will know the name of the notes, chords, and scales they are using and more important, they will know why the musical composition works or sounds good.

A musician does not need to hear the musical composition to know wether or not certain notes and chords sound good when played together, because the theory has already determined what note and chord families will sound good together and why it is so.

On the other hand many people who play music, do play by ear. Many of those who play by ear do not know the name of the notes, chords, and scales they are playing, yet they are able to create a musical composition that is pleasing to the ear of the listener.

Players who learn and create music by ear have developed a good sense of pitch and as they continue to train their ear, their ability to identify notes, chords, and qualities of chords, will improve.

Typically, those who play by ear are limited to playing simple forms of music like blues, rock, pop, and country. It is very difficult to play classical and jazz music without some form of musical training and a decent grasp on music theory.

People who have the ability to learn complex forms of music by ear have an extraordinary musical gift and they might even be considered musical prodigies.

To help draw a distinction between musicians and those who play music by ear I offer this example. A person who uses a computer may not have a clue about how a computer works, yet they can type a letter, send an e-mail, or surf the net. The same is true with music.

So, if a person who plays music by ear creates a musical composition that pleases the ear then they are likely applying principles of music theory wether they realize it or not.

3) Is music theory only beneficial to musicians?

No. Many studies have concluded that those who study music and the arts excel in school, career, and in life.

A degree in music is most always a liberal arts degree and therefore does not limit one to just being a musician. There are many career paths one can pursue with a music degree.

A person who understands music theory will typically pay close attention to the music they are listening to. Musicians will listen for rhythm, melody, harmony, note juxtaposition, point counterpoint, dynamics, etc... The better someone listens and can understand the nuances in the music they are listening to, the more they can enjoy it.

4) What is tablature and is it the same thing as reading music?

Tablature would not be considered reading music. Tablature is a system that shows guitar players exactly what notes and chords to play by showing where to place their fingers on the neck of the guitar. Tablature does not give enough information to play the music as it was written, with tablature you must know the song to be able to play it as it was written.

Tablature is a very effective tool for musicians and players alike and is widely used by both. Accurate tablature will allow a player to to copy a piece of music very close to the way it was written if they are familiar with the piece of music.

Tablature is not the same thing as reading music but it is a very useful tool for learning note for note transcriptions, and is a good learning tool as well.

5) What is the best way to learn music theory?

I believe the best way to learn music theory is through formal musical training. Music study can be acquired at a school that teaches music or by way of private instruction or tutoring. Learning music theory without the assistance of a teacher is possible but it would be a challenge.

My own experience is that the best time to learn music theory is when a person is young, between the ages of 8 and 12 or when a child is in elementary school. The chances of successfully learning music theory seems to be much better when the music training starts at an early age.

To read discussion on this topic visit my blog and remember, in music ignorance isn't bliss, it just means more work!

Michael Allard is fitness instructor and private consultant. Michael is also a performing musician and guitar teacher. He has published numerous books, booklets and articles on music, fitness, art, and politics. Michael is currently completing a B.S. in political science and host a blog at hillbillyadvocat.blogspot.com [http://hillbillyadvocat.blogspot.com]

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