How does learning Music Theory benefit a new music student?

[Bricealan]

While learning Violin and Piano, I am taking a Music Theory class, and find it stupefying as to how smart that many of the very young (12 years old) Theory students are in this class.

My Yoga instructor plays both the Cello, and the Violin, and played in an orchestra in NY City, and she said she has never taken theory, and DOES find it very difficult, after talking to those that have studied "theory".

Does anyone have any experience with taking Music Theory, and how has it benefited you?

Updates

1 y

I hesitate to select an MHO on this question because in this instance, I got some REALLY GOOD detailed information/opinions from several people and since I cannot give them all the MHO, I hope I can just thank each one and not select an MHO, because that, to me, signals that one or the other was not a valuable input to my question, and they ALL WERE and they all deserve a Most Helpful Opinion
@PrettyPriya
@purplepoppy

[Anonymous]

1. Understanding musical concepts: Music Theory provides a framework for understanding the building blocks of music, such as scales, chords, harmony, and melody. This knowledge can help a new music student understand how music is constructed, and how to create their own music.

2. Improved sight-reading and ear training: Music Theory can help new music students develop their sight-reading skills, which is the ability to read and play music at first sight. It can also improve ear training, which is the ability to hear and recognize musical intervals, chords, and melodies.

3. Better communication with other musicians: Music Theory provides a common language for musicians to communicate with each other. By understanding musical concepts and terminology, new music students can communicate more effectively with other musicians, both in rehearsals and performances.

4. Enhanced musical creativity: Learning Music Theory can help new music students develop their creativity by providing them with the tools to create their own music. By understanding how music is constructed, they can experiment with different musical ideas and create their own unique compositions.

5. Increased opportunities: Many music schools and universities require Music Theory as part of their curriculum. By learning Music Theory, new music students can increase their opportunities for further musical education and potentially pursue a career in music.

In conclusion, learning Music Theory can provide numerous benefits for new music students, including a deeper understanding and appreciation of music, improved sight-reading and ear training skills, better communication with other musicians, enhanced musical creativity, and increased opportunities for further musical education and career development.

[misogynistic_pig]

Learning music theory can benefit a new music student in a number of ways, including:

Improve music reading: By learning music theory, students can better understand how notes are written and read on a staff, making it easier for them to read and play music.

Understanding Musical Structure: Music theory provides students with an in-depth understanding of how music is structured, including concepts such as harmony, melody, rhythm, and form.

This can help students better understand how the different parts of a piece of music relate to each other.

Enhance Creativity: By understanding music theory, students can use this understanding to explore and experiment with different musical ideas, which can enhance their creativity in composition and improvisation.

Develop Listening Skills: Music theory can also help students develop their listening skills, including the ability to identify intervals, chords, and melodic patterns.

This can improve your ability to play music by ear and your ability to improvise.

In general, learning music theory can provide a solid foundation for long-term musical development and can help students better understand the music they are playing or creating.

[Bricealan]

I really appreciate your taking time to write this all out, and I have heard that one benefit is that a student can use 'theory' in doing a composition of their own.
One of the main difficulties for me in this class, is understanding of building 'triads' from a Major scale and then understand what and why a triad is either a "primary', 'secondary, 'diminished', or 'augmented.
"This instructor will sit with his back to us, and play a 'scale' and then ask the students to 'identify' what scale that is/was, (including some scales that include a 'flat' or a 'sharp' or 'sharps) Even these very young students can identify the scale.
I do appreciate your viewpoint. and I thank you.

BAP

[Bricealan]

P. S. you must have started learning music at a VERY YOUNG age?

[Bricealan]

@PrettyPriya It was so detailed, and 'professional, I wondered at his expertise at age "20"
Thanks Priya

[Bricealan]

@PrettyPriya Priya, thanks for letting me know, those were not his words, although I have some very smart 'kids' in my Theory class, they are 9-10-11, and thought by the age of 20 they could have written the piece that the responder wrote. Thanks again.

[jennifer_bloom]

I know a lot of very successful people that had musical backgrounds. One became a surgeon and was raised to play instruments as a youth and I know two millionaires who played the violin as children. I believe musical training is good for the brain and I recommend it for both adults and kids.

[Bricealan]

Well, Jennifer, I do understand how 'theory' can be a 'brain' exercise and I believe I will stick with it and ask my violin/piano teacher to push ahead with me in an 'advanced theory' work book.
Keeps my life interesting. Thank, Ms. Bloom

[Anonymous]

Trust me on this. The best musicians play by ear. I majored in music, and music theory is crap. When you speak, do you need to read the words off of paper, or do you just speak?

[Bricealan]

I have heard that some 'rock star" musicians DO play by ear. As a 'youngster' of about 9 or 10 I started piano and accordion and at that time, had some concept of playing the "keyboard" and also the 'left hand" (base clef) I also played 'by ear" and at that age, I cannot remember if I was good at reading music or not. I never went far with it, and had I then had 'peers' or my mother had encouraged me I would have continued on probably to this day.
As you might guess, playing the Base Clef is the most difficult for me, and of course, taking Violin AND piano at the same time, it is a really ACCELERATED learning for me and a very steep learning curve. I guess, after being involved in both the instruments AND theory, I will try to 'stumble on" with theory, even though it is very difficult for me to grasp the concepts and terminology.
I thank you so much for your point of view, and for your taking time to respond to my question.

[Opinion Owner]

Learn some theory and learn how to speak your instrument's language. You're reading my words right now, but you can also speak on your own. Take that approach. Think about this; hundreds of years ago, there were no recording devices or video. All they had was a piece of paper and a pen.
But for some strange reason, music teachers stuck with that primitive method. I think it has a lot to do with justifying their job. They don't want you to know how unproductive that method is.

I teach classical guitar. I'll tell a little rug rat to close his eyes. I'll play a single note, then I'll tell the rat to figure out the note I played. Once they catch on, they become good players. Imagine thinking up a melodic line in your head. You need to train yourself to play the line without paper and pen.
I used to teach reading music, but then I realized what bullshit it was.
I learned this by going to bluegrass jams. There was no paper, just great players.

I talked to an awesome banjo player. I asked him how much he practices. I'll never forget what he said. He said: "What do you mean? I just play." lol

Reading music reminds me so much of the presidential primaries. Why do they start on the East coast? Because people cling to bullshit traditions. The primaries should all happen on the same day. This ain't the horse and buggy days.

Some on woman on here said that music theory is the foundation of music. Tell that to Scott Joplin and BB King. Your ear is the foundation, not some bullshit theory. When I was in music school, I had to write something in four-part harmony. I wrote it in my head, just like Mozart did. Then I struggled to put on paper. There was zero theory involved, I was just imagining something that would sound good. The professor said it was awesome.

[Bricealan]

I thank you again for your perspective, and taking as much time as you did to give me a solid answer and the back up for it. I really enjoy music, and one time sat down and picked out the first few measures of "Pomp and Circumstance" and realized it was in the key a 'A" and then had to find the 'sharps: C, F, G. and then wrote them down on a musical score. My music teacher then played it on her viola. That was by EAR that I found the 'notes' and the had to write out what I 'heard' in my head. Thanks again!!!

[Opinion Owner]

Thanks for the MHO

[Nikki1989]

Music theory is the foundation to everything musical.

[Bricealan]

I have felt that way, in that Theory, is the foundation of music, as of course it is. I just find it difficult, and being in a class with those "kids' that are 8,9,10, young enough to be my grand kids, it is sometimes really daunting to listen and watch them do so of the things that are beyond my grasp as a student at this point in my life/career. Thanks, "Nikkii"

[Msputiton]

Idk🤷🏾‍♀️