In three months’ time my daughter will be graduating from college and we are thankful that despite the financial difficulty we didn’t gave up in supporting her education. We thought of giving her a gift but she requested us to buy her ticket for a two-day conference scheduled next month. I think that is more practical than giving her cheap acoustic guitars at guitarcenter.com.
My daughter is a little disappointed today when her first artwork sale didn’t materialize. A buyer from Seattle was supposed to buy a digital drawing but didn’t pursue the transaction because of the exorbitant shipping fee. The artwork is just a size of a bond paper but the courier company rate is P1,330 (around $27). I told my daughter there will always be a next time.  With the present shipping rate I wouldn’t be surprised if the amount for sending a musiciansfriend.com guitar amp overseas is expensive as well.
I told my daughter to create an Instagram account for me so I could follow her and like her posts. I have a few concerns though. Besides the regular photos to post, I don’t have a decent profile picture to use. My daughter said I don’t have to worry about pictures to use; the important thing is that I have an account and I could now follow my friends and relatives. Also, it would be easier to check on guitar center stores near me.
I was searching for a blog post idea when I chanced upon an old video of ours while we were at the mall. There was background music and I think someone was playing a guitar. It could be that the one playing the burswood guitar was using a mic that’s why the music was loud enough to be captured in the video. The kids were still small and I was a lot slimmer then. It was fun seeing this video again. Good thing I was able to upload it on You Tube.
Image courtesy of punsayaporn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
As you learn how to play an instrument, music takes on a new role in your life. The more you learn, the less you realize you know. You have probably listened to a song and wondered “How can I write something like that?”. An important tool to learn how to do just that is music theory.
What is it?
Music theory is the science of rationalizing music. Through it, we can understand what gives a song its character. For centuries, theorists have studied chords, intervals, and melodies. Music theory instruction is today one of the capstone courses of a music degree. Many graduates take it for three years while they are in school.
Why Learn Music Theory?
Many “self-taught” musicians eschew the process of learning it. Their ear is the tool they think they need. These novices are making a crucial mistake. Learning theory actually improves your mind’s ear. It can be frustrating because there is no end to the study of theory. You can’t know everything about music.
Express Yourself
Knowledge of the science behind music helps musicians express themselves more fully. It expedites the process of getting a piece of music in your head down on paper the way you hear it. Without a good foundation, you could spend hours just trying to figure out what you are hearing. A good background in music theory gives you the ability to focus on the details when writing.
Improvising
Improvising is a huge part of American music. It started with jazz, but now soloists in every genre do it. It is the act of creating music on the spot with no preconceived idea. Of course, there are people that have a natural talent for it. Even they can benefit from applying theoretical knowledge to the natural ability they already possess.
How to Learn it
There are a few ways to improve music theory knowledge. A lot of books have been written about the topic. Companies like C.R. Carole music offer music theory workbooks. They offer the most basic music theory instructions all the way up to advanced level courses. It can be a tricky topic to learn at first. So, it’s a good idea to hire a private instructor to help with your studies. Private teachers are professionals with a vast amount of knowledge on the topic. They will make the process of learning theory go much quicker. When you understand the mathematical concepts behind music, your relationship with it is much more rewarding and fruitful.