You've probably heard the expression “musical theory” or “music theory” at some point. It is commonly used, but do we know what exactly it is, what it specifically refers to, what it includes and what it does not? Do we have to study and learn music theory? Let's examine it to know better what we are talking about.
Pythagoras and music theory
The theory of music
This matter is actually very old. We know that Pythagoras in Classical Greece already tried to understand the magic of musical sounds and their relationships. But it was neither the first nor the only one. If we look at the two main words that make up this expression, it seems that we could already get a pretty clear idea of what it refers to. Music: Well, everyone knows what music is: those special sounds, rhythms, chords, an important part of our life, even if we are not aware of it. Theory: Theory is a very broad topic, but to get to the point we will say that it refers to a series of ideas or hypotheses based on the observation of a specific reality, in our case, music. That is, the music itself normally happens first and the theory comes later to try to explain and develop that sound practice: the melodies, the rhythms, the harmonies. Music theory has been seen in recent centuries, at least, as the, let's say, correct way to learn music, although today this is in full discussion. Summing up. If music can be seen as a language, something we use to communicate, then music theory will be that discipline that deals with and studies musical language. Podcast episode dedicated to music theory Wow, a new concept. Let's go get him.
The musical language
Musical language is everything that turns music into a language. The sound elements, the perception of musical sounds and the structures that give them coherence and meaning, basically. Within what is understood by musical language we find several more specific aspects or activities. Musical notationMusical readingRhythmic, melodic and harmonic expressionEar educationMusical elements and their structure These expressions are now beginning to be more understandable and we can refine much more the meaning they have and what exactly they refer to. Let's examine them one by one.
Piano sheet music and music theory
musical notation
Musical notation or writing is a visual code that has been used since ancient times to fix, remember and transmit music. Traditionally on a medium such as paper, throughout history a system of signs that represented musical sounds and how they should be interpreted was enriched and perfected. The notes that we know today, the tempos, the rhythms, the various harmonic relationships and so on were finding a way to be written and preserved, in addition to making communication between musicians more fluid.
musical reading
Reading music, sometimes also called solfeggio, in terms of intonation, is the other side of musical writing. Being able to understand and reproduce this code of notes, articulations and other signs in a musical performance has been an inexcusable skill in the history of cultured and academic music. Currently, with the latest technological innovations, digital possibilities and the new visual representations that music can adopt, it is perhaps not so essential to function in musical environments. But knowing, as they say, doesn't take up space, and allows you to have an additional perspective on music.
Expression in music
Another important aspect of music theory focuses on how music is performed, that is, traditional melody, rhythm, and harmony. But also in timbre, in the specific qualities of musical sounds, in how they are articulated and, also, in silence, which is something very important in musical development.
Metronome and sheet music
auditory education
Ear or auditory education is a key discipline in both music theory and practice. Being able to understand what we hear, the musical relationships that are established between sound elements, notes, rhythms, structures and so on, is what will make the difference between a person who repeatedly plays or sings musical pieces and a performer who He brings his own sensitivity and experience to a song or musical composition, whatever it may be.
The musical elements
Music in itself, as we have commented on other occasions, is a language but not a dictionary. The note C does not mean anything in particular and neither do the rest of the notes, rhythms and chords. The sense or meaning that a musical discourse may have comes directly from the elements it contains and the relationships established between them, that is, its structure. The form of a piece of music, the parts or sections that make it up, resources such as the chorus or other forms of repetition such as the leitmotif and, in general, everything that has a certain unity and is repeated to some recognizable extent, will be the elements musicals that studies this branch of music theory.
Metronome and sheet music
modern or classical music
And, if we talk about music theory, sooner rather than later we find ourselves with the old discussion of which theory I should study. Classical or modern music theory? Although it is true that there are differences between one and the other, such as the type of works that are studied and performed and, perhaps, the teaching style that is practiced, it must be said that, deep down, they are concerned with understanding and try to explain the same phenomenon: music. You can sometimes give different names to the same specific topic. They may differ in the language they use to present their explanations. They may have their different assessments about what is good and what is not so good but, in general, you should not find major contradictions between one and the other. Whether you like to create music for songs or prefer instrumental music or if you want to write songs, either of these two teaching modalities will give you useful and interesting things.
Conclusions
In any case, let's not be intimidated by all that mountain of books, studies and theoretical speeches. Music is a natural activity of human beings, a kind of gift that we all have. To hum it, to share it, to put music to a song, to a lyric that matters to us. Let's enjoy the music. Let's sing, it's a part of us. It's the best we have. Forward. #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_column_with_background { padding: 10px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_column:not(:first-child) { margin-left: 20px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_paragraph { line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_segment_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_text_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_textarea_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_select_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_radio_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_checkbox_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_list_label, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_label { display: block; font-weight: normal; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_text, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_textarea, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_select, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_month, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_day, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date_year, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_date { display: block; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_text, #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_textarea { width: 200px; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_checkbox { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_submit { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_divider { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_message { } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_loading { width: 30px; text-align: center; line-height: normal; } #mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_loading > span { width: 5px; height: 5px; background-color: #5b5b5b; }#mailpoet_form_3{border: 1px solid #fcb900;border-radius: 40px;text-align: center;}#mailpoet_form_3 form.mailpoet_form {padding: 20px;}#mailpoet_form_3{width: 70%;}#mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_message {margin : 0; padding: 0 20px;}#mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_paragraph.last {margin-bottom: 0} @media (max-width: 500px) {#mailpoet_form_3 {background-image: none;}} @media (min-width: 500px) { #mailpoet_form_3 .last .mailpoet_paragraph:last-child {margin-bottom: 0}} @media (max-width: 500px) {#mailpoet_form_3 .mailpoet_form_column:last-child .mailpoet_paragraph:last-child {margin-bottom: 0}} Please leave this field emptyDo you write songs or would you like to?
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