This is a reply to an email I received from the Music Theory Guy, an English music teacher in a London secondary school who believes that music students should have a firm grounding in music theory [as do I]…
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for your reply. It got me into thinking about what I like about your work and site.
I think that people learning music really don’t get the basics about music theory. I think music is one of those things that you can do quite happily for years – perhaps your whole lifetime – and not understand the basics of music theory. In my case, I can play many instruments but have never had the sense that I really ‘get’ the fundamentals (I am a middle-aged architect and writer).
This is fine for many who may lack an understanding of these basics but eventually they will hit a wall beyond which they will not be able to go further. Then they must go back and try to understand how the system works on a deeper level. For many this is too daunting a task.
For instance, if you want to start composing music then some knowledge of music theory is essential. I think a lot more people would compose if they just understood enough about how music theory works. Probably, lots of people don’t compose because of this reason.
A lot of music theory involves acquiring an understanding how Standard Musical Notation works. This appears to be a very powerful system that abstracts out a lot of complexity. The more I learn about this system I more I can appreciate its power and elegance.
Standard Musical Notation is similar to modern computer programming languages. The best ones abstract away a lot of complexity and allow the brain to begin to think creatively about the real problem at hand, which I believe is about self-expression and making deeper connection between ideas.
What I like about the Music Theory Guy approach:
- It assumes that anyone can learn this stuff, that is, music theory expressed in Standard Musical Notation
- It is appropriate for all ages
- It goes step by step and it is modular in approach
- It proposes that music theory is not some add-on at the end but that it is essential right from the start
- It doesn’t try to shame people if you don’t know it (why feel bad about something if it has never been adequately taught to you?)
- It explains it in a way that is just about impossible to not understand, if you go through your material enough times.
I find I go through your videos many times because I find them soothing to listen to. I will never tire of hearing about the Circle of Fifths, which I consider to have information packed into it than anything else I know. [Perhaps I should finally commit this thing to memory!]
I have no criticisms of your approach whatsoever. I would just like you to keep on going. This I see as an open-ended process that could go on forever.
If you were to keep on going on this project then eventually you would be explaining ideas about modern music which most assume are completely beyond their understanding. You would have provided for the public an unbroken chain of tuition which could help many to get to an advanced level of musical understanding. This I see as a significant accomplishment.
The questions I have about music theory are (these are just ideas for future work, not as requests for information):
- The standard musical notation system obviously has a long cultural history behind it. Will this system evolve or is it fine the way it is?
- Will future styles of serious or popular music eventually hit a wall in which the notation system will become inadequate? Will ‘reform’ of Standard Musical Notation ever become necessary?
- In my experience in software design, great progress is enabled sometimes with the design of new languages and systems of notation. Is music in a similar position?
On a more pedestrian note:
- How do melodies and chord progressions work? Do they just use the notes of the key the song is in?
- The Nashville Numbering System seems like an accessible way of describing chord progressions and the structure of popular music. (e.g. 1, 5, 4 instead of I, V, IV). Does such an idea have any value in serious music education?
- Should children be taught how to compose at the same time they are taught how to play an instrument? (We have twin sons aged 11 who are fortunate to have an excellent music education program in their local state school). Do you think these boys should be taught how to compose, say in Sibelius Junior Version?
Thanks and look forward to seeing more Music Theory Guy videos in my inbox!
Michael
