What is Music Theory?
You’ve heard the words “Music Theory” referred throughout the Philadelphia Guitar Lessons website, but what exactly is Music Theory?
Music theory is the area of music in which one learns and applies the key ideas and concepts that show a musician why music works the way it does. It provides understanding of music so that a player isn’t completely confused when they begin to play any instrument. Understanding music theory means knowing the language of music. It is simply a way to explain the music we hear.
Understand
In learning how to play a guitar for instance, once must understand the music first. This will then allow them to understand why they play the way they do instead of just picking up an instrument and trying to play it. If you have a passion for music and want to learn more about how it works, you should learn music theory. When you learn music theory, you will understand key concepts and approaches needed to understand, create and perform contemporary music.
Transcribe
Being able to transcribe music makes it possible for other musicians to read and play compositions just as the composer intended. When you learn to read music, it is just as if you are learning a new language. With this knowledge, you open yourself up to many more possibilities of creating your own music.
Theory
There are many self-taught musicians who never learned to read or write music and find the idea of it tedious and unnecessary. However, music theory can help a musician learn new techniques, perform unfamiliar music and develop the confidence to try new things. Music theory can show you what other musicians and composers have done in the past and why it works. This can enable you to understand and be able to play any piece of music. This also allows you to start taking on more creativity in your own playing style. Just as an author must read many different genres of books in order to be a better writer, a musician should learn a lot of works by other musicians in order to find their style and be able to create their own music.
Harmonious
You get out of music, what you put into it. If you want to be able to play key, important pieces in music history, you must understand the harmonies and how they fit together. Learning to play and understand music requires much discipline but in the end it is worth it because it will teach you to be more creative and understand your own musical style. Above anything else, music theory is meant to impart the joy of creating music and sharing that knowledge with others.
David Joel teaches music theory as part of his guitar teachings. He believes in the importance of understanding music, how to read it and why you are reading what you are. This way of teaching will help you to be a better, disciplined guitar player.
If you are looking for guitar lessons in Philadelphia and want to dive into the understanding of music theory, give David Joel a call today. He offers private lessons with the focus on you and your playing style.
Phone: (215) 831-8640