Music theory is the study of why chords sound the way they do and how to build them, what makes melody so melodic, why different modes give different feelings, and much more. Now music theory for pianists has always been an integral part of the study of the instrument. However, today's fast paced world with its pop music, instant gratification, and learning everything (not just piano and not just music) "by ear" has made many piano students and even some instructors question whether there is really any value in music theory.
People find music theory dull and too abstract. They believe that as long as they practice sufficiently their ear will become trained and they'll be able to write music and pick up on songs; and if they can't they can at least read music. Music theory may be boring to some people, but understanding why chords sound like they do, understanding why certain intervals create certain sounds and feels, is valuable beyond words to the piano player.
All music schools and music departments furnish a number of theory classes for students, as well as ear training. Perfect pitch is a rare gift for most musicians, but even those individuals who have perfect pitch still have to study theory so that it helps them with relative pitch and learn how melodies and harmony are constructed in works of music. Also, even if you can identify and read notes easily doesn't mean that you can compose great works of music or that you can easily understand a great piece of music.
Imagine listening to someone reading out loud using no expression or emotion, with a lot of hesitation. Still, they are able to read and speak the words. The problem is that they do not sound good because there is no understanding of the words they are articulating.
So even if a person reads without expression they may understand what the words mean, but they still do not grasp the true meaning of the words. If they really understood what they were reading, the reading would be more impressive. This holds true for musicians: if they can read the notes, they would be much better musicians by infusing the notes with expression.
A music student with perfect pitch who can perform with uncanny accuracy and beauty still needs to acquire the knowledge neccessary to understand music theory. Most colleges require music students to learn music theory as a part of their program of study. And most music students know that it is necessary to study music theory to understand how music works. - 16463
People find music theory dull and too abstract. They believe that as long as they practice sufficiently their ear will become trained and they'll be able to write music and pick up on songs; and if they can't they can at least read music. Music theory may be boring to some people, but understanding why chords sound like they do, understanding why certain intervals create certain sounds and feels, is valuable beyond words to the piano player.
All music schools and music departments furnish a number of theory classes for students, as well as ear training. Perfect pitch is a rare gift for most musicians, but even those individuals who have perfect pitch still have to study theory so that it helps them with relative pitch and learn how melodies and harmony are constructed in works of music. Also, even if you can identify and read notes easily doesn't mean that you can compose great works of music or that you can easily understand a great piece of music.
Imagine listening to someone reading out loud using no expression or emotion, with a lot of hesitation. Still, they are able to read and speak the words. The problem is that they do not sound good because there is no understanding of the words they are articulating.
So even if a person reads without expression they may understand what the words mean, but they still do not grasp the true meaning of the words. If they really understood what they were reading, the reading would be more impressive. This holds true for musicians: if they can read the notes, they would be much better musicians by infusing the notes with expression.
A music student with perfect pitch who can perform with uncanny accuracy and beauty still needs to acquire the knowledge neccessary to understand music theory. Most colleges require music students to learn music theory as a part of their program of study. And most music students know that it is necessary to study music theory to understand how music works. - 16463
About the Author:
Georgia Reader writes for PlayPianoGuide.com, which is a website that reports on the most recent and most effective piano courses currently online. Music theory is mandatory for piano students to learn as well as learning the notes and how to play the instrument.
