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Author Topic: Music theory.  (Read 2925 times)

The Hammered

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Music theory.
« on: 12 Jul 2006, 21:21 »
Right, I need some suggestions here. For learning music theory, would you suggest a book, a teacher, both, or something else entirely? Also, if it's possible to just learn from a book, do you have any particular recommendations?

Thanks.
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FeralCats

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Music theory.
« Reply #1 on: 13 Jul 2006, 04:11 »
Go buy a good book. May I reccomend 'Music Notation' by Garner Read? It's really excellent.
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Misereatur

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Music theory.
« Reply #2 on: 13 Jul 2006, 04:27 »
As someone who is lerning music theory in highschool, I say that getting a teacher is the best way.
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TrueNeutral

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Music theory.
« Reply #3 on: 13 Jul 2006, 04:29 »
Really? I got music theory in high school while I was learning to play guitar. I don't even remember what I 'learned' in high school.
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Thrillho

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Music theory.
« Reply #4 on: 13 Jul 2006, 12:38 »
I suggest a teacher all the way. I tried self-teaching, I tried books, and frankly, I would be a worthless guitarist (and I'd not play any of the other insruments I can play now) without my teacher.
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RealLifeFake

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Music theory.
« Reply #5 on: 13 Jul 2006, 13:22 »
I've got 6 semesters of Music Theory under my belt (along with Ear Training, which is extremely helpful if you have the resources) and I would say the easiest and best way to learn Theory is from someone who already understands it.

Music Theory is a contrived, irritating, subject which bases everything you learn on everything else you learn.  It's like Calculus.  You cannot possibly sit down and understand dirivatives (sp) or integrals without first understanding arithmetic and algebra.

If you find someone who understands Music Theory, they can explain the rules to you in a way that will help you understand them.  You can't get that from a book.

Good luck.
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Lines

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Music theory.
« Reply #6 on: 13 Jul 2006, 13:52 »
you need a teacher. most of it really is ear training and if you don't know what you're doing, you're not really going to get anything but irritated. i took if for two years in high school and it was REALLY helpful. especially if you are planning to go into music in college, becaue then you can ask your teacher to help you with certain things that will be on entrance exams.
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IronOxide

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Music theory.
« Reply #7 on: 13 Jul 2006, 17:22 »
A teacher is best, or at the very least a friend that you learn it with. Learning Music Theory is utterly useless if you do not do ear training, and to do that well you need someone to work on it with you. Teacher, hands down.

I've taken the AP and it would be amazingly futile to try to learn something like that by yourself.

Also, when you're listening to music, grab some staff paper and do some melodic dictation. Analyze form, do some chord analysis. Music theory isn't somthing you just learn, it's something that you really have to train and work on constantly.
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Valrus

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Music theory.
« Reply #8 on: 13 Jul 2006, 20:19 »
Quote from: TrueNeutral
Really? I got music theory in high school while I was learning to play guitar. I don't even remember what I 'learned' in high school.


Okay, so getting a teacher outside of high school is the best way. In my experience, the chance of remembering anything you learned in high school two years later is slim.
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FeralCats

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Music theory.
« Reply #9 on: 14 Jul 2006, 02:12 »
Quote from: Valrus
Quote from: TrueNeutral
Really? I got music theory in high school while I was learning to play guitar. I don't even remember what I 'learned' in high school.


Okay, so getting a teacher outside of high school is the best way. In my experience, the chance of remembering anything you learned in high school two years later is slim.


Yeah, that's about right.
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TrueNeutral

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Music theory.
« Reply #10 on: 14 Jul 2006, 03:11 »
Quote from: Valrus
Quote from: TrueNeutral
Really? I got music theory in high school while I was learning to play guitar. I don't even remember what I 'learned' in high school.


Okay, so getting a teacher outside of high school is the best way. In my experience, the chance of remembering anything you learned in high school two years later is slim.


Fair enough. Any 'credentials' or anything someone should look for?
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timehat

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Music theory.
« Reply #11 on: 14 Jul 2006, 06:19 »
A degree in music of some sort, I would say. And yeah, I think being self-taught to a degree is cool, because it gives you an individualitic grasp on a lot of ideas, but having a teacher can expose you to a ton of knowledge very quickly.
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Lines

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Music theory.
« Reply #12 on: 14 Jul 2006, 07:12 »
Quote from: TrueNeutral
Quote from: Valrus
Quote from: TrueNeutral
Really? I got music theory in high school while I was learning to play guitar. I don't even remember what I 'learned' in high school.


Okay, so getting a teacher outside of high school is the best way. In my experience, the chance of remembering anything you learned in high school two years later is slim.


Fair enough. Any 'credentials' or anything someone should look for?


you probably want someone with a music degree. not saying those who don't won't know anything, but a person with a degree will probably know more and be more helpful.

i still remember most of what i learned in high school... i just don't use it because i never have a reason to.
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