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Music Theory's Ridiculous Fundamentals

Submitted by tokiokobayas on Thu, 02/21/2019 - 20:27

    It’s interesting to realize the amount of complexity that exists when learning music theory formally. When a child learns how to play a note on the piano or on any instrument, we are taught to hear that specific sound and to associate it with a note name (such as F). Yet when learning music theory as a college student, the idea behind “what is a note” and “what is a sharp”, are all asked. The importance behind such ideas are important to be formally addressed, but is it entirely necessary in order to teach music theory? At the end of the day, a child who has been playing the piano for half a year, can most likely tell an introductory music theory student what simple concepts are, like what a half note is, or what a sharp is. The way they express it might not be formal or coherent, but they still understand what it is. It’s ridiculous to think that an understanding of music theory is necessary in order to make or create music. As an example, those who have been considered “musical legends” such as John Lennon, did not know how to read music until he was well into his career as a well-established musician.

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