Paula Sullivan Musician

Have you ever heard someone say ‘you do not need to know music theory to be a good musician’?  It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Do not be fooled.

Whether your goal is to have a career in music, get into music school or even to just learn music for fun - music theory is essential.

Music theory is the study of how music works!

A basic part of music theory is called notation. Learning music is like learning a language, with it’s own alphabet and grammar. Just as you need to learn words or other things about how language works to read or write well, you need to learn the notation of music. Notation includes such things as clefs, note names, rhythms, rests, intervals, meter, time signatures, key signatures and dynamics. Learning music theory notation helps you to be able to read music and to play well.

Another part of music theory are scales and chords. Learning scales and chords unlocks the creative potential of music. Learning them (and practicing them everyday) also allows you to become more skilled on your instrument, whether it be piano, harp, brass or reed or any other musical instrument.

Since most music follows the principles of music theory, learning chords, scales and other parts of music theory makes your brain ready to know what to expect and helps you to play with confidence and competence. Knowing music theory is especially handy when learning a new piece or sight reading for an college entrance audition, or when your friends unexpectedly ask you to play something you never played before.

Knowing your scales makes learning a new piece easier and it makes you sound like you know what you are doing. Because you do! By learning music theory, you really know music. And when you know theory, it will take you less time to learn a new piece.

The benefits of learning music theory:

• It will help you to enjoy playing music even more.
• You will have more options as a musician.
• It makes playing music easier.
• You’ll know how to perform, compose, improvise, arrange and teach music.
• Because music theory gives all musicians a common language, you’ll be able to play in a band or orchestra more successfully.
• If you are in a school band, you’ll have an easier time knowing what your band director wants you to do. This will give you the edge in moving up to first chair and getting a better grade.
• You’ll increase your chances of getting into a music program at a college or university. In fact, many music colleges will not even let you in the door without already knowing at least some music theory.

If you plan to go to music college, you can find this out for yourself if you want. Contact a few music colleges, especially the ones you want to get into, and ask them how important theory is to getting accepted and being successful in their program. Remember – the colleges are the ones who decide if you get in or not, not some random person who tries to convince you that theory is unimportant. Ask the professors- they know music and they know what it takes to make it.

Music theory helps you to know how music works. To say it is not essential, would be as foolish as to say someone doesn’t need to know biology to be a doctor or math to be an engineer. Would you let someone fix your car if they did not know how a car works? That’s all theory is – how stuff works. In the case of music theory, it’s how music works, and it is essential to learning music.

So, the next time someone tells you that you do not need to learn music theory to be a good musician, chances are they do not know it themselves. Do you really want to take the risk of receiving music lessons from someone who doesn’t know how music works?

Are you are looking for a qualified music teacher for yourself or your children? You can contact me at 616.538.0953.  My studio is located in Wyoming, MI. If you live outside of the Wyoming area, I can refer you to a music teacher located in your area who you can trust to help you be successful and have fun with music.