The study of music theory entails the analysis and building of chords, how to develop a melody, scales, rhythm, and ear training. In most traditional music school settings, music theory has always been a part of the curriculum. Nowadays, in this world with people that want quick results and fast fixes, students just don't want to spend the time studying music theory.
Most people find that theory does not apply to them, as it is too complex and makes no sense. Music is supposed to be entertaining and enjoyable not full of analysis and if you can play and perform your piano very well that is all the matters, according to many musicians. Music theory encompasses so much knowledge about how music sounds, it is a great way to add to your arsenal of knowledge as a pianist.
All music schools and music departments furnish a number of theory classes for students, as well as ear training. Perfect pitch is a rare gift for most musicians, but even those individuals who have perfect pitch still have to study theory so that it helps them with relative pitch and learn how melodies and harmony are constructed in works of music. Also, even if you can identify and read notes easily doesn't mean that you can compose great works of music or that you can easily understand a great piece of music.
Have you ever heard someone reading aloud with no feeling, no sense of when to emphasize, no "flow"? But they obviously knew how to speak the words and how to read to be able to read aloud. They sound so bad because they lack a depth of understanding of what they are actually reading.
Even if they know the meanings of all or most of the words, the true meaning and all of the mental and emotional subtleties contained in the content are going over their head. They would do so much better if they actually knew what they were reading about. It's the same with a musician.
Even if you have been born with perfect pitch or have the knack to perform music, with theory you will have the knowledge you need to understand why music sounds the way it does. Music theory is a basic skill that most people are required to learn in college level classes. A music major should know how music is put together in order to understand how to perform or compose music. - 15485
Most people find that theory does not apply to them, as it is too complex and makes no sense. Music is supposed to be entertaining and enjoyable not full of analysis and if you can play and perform your piano very well that is all the matters, according to many musicians. Music theory encompasses so much knowledge about how music sounds, it is a great way to add to your arsenal of knowledge as a pianist.
All music schools and music departments furnish a number of theory classes for students, as well as ear training. Perfect pitch is a rare gift for most musicians, but even those individuals who have perfect pitch still have to study theory so that it helps them with relative pitch and learn how melodies and harmony are constructed in works of music. Also, even if you can identify and read notes easily doesn't mean that you can compose great works of music or that you can easily understand a great piece of music.
Have you ever heard someone reading aloud with no feeling, no sense of when to emphasize, no "flow"? But they obviously knew how to speak the words and how to read to be able to read aloud. They sound so bad because they lack a depth of understanding of what they are actually reading.
Even if they know the meanings of all or most of the words, the true meaning and all of the mental and emotional subtleties contained in the content are going over their head. They would do so much better if they actually knew what they were reading about. It's the same with a musician.
Even if you have been born with perfect pitch or have the knack to perform music, with theory you will have the knowledge you need to understand why music sounds the way it does. Music theory is a basic skill that most people are required to learn in college level classes. A music major should know how music is put together in order to understand how to perform or compose music. - 15485
About the Author:
Georgia Reader reports on for PlayPianoGuide.com, which is a website that reports on the most recent and most effective piano courses online today. Music theory is mandatory for piano students to learn as well as learning the notes and how to play the instrument.