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prolificprogger View Drop Down
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Points: 81 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Music Theory
    Posted: May 01 2008 at 13:50
I have a question about music composition. Will studying music theory help to improve my music composition skills?
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Petrovsk Mizinski View Drop Down
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Points: 25210 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 02 2008 at 17:25
Studying theory will help to improve your skills in music across the board, not just in composition.
We need to know a bit more about what you are currently/ or want to start studying to help you out a bit more on what you should know etc. Getting a theory teacher can really help too, or even just a general instrument teacher helps (although I'm myself self taught in both areas, there has been many times I've come across classically trained kids that didn't know about certain concepts that I even knew about).
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Points: 81 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 02 2008 at 18:32
Originally posted by HughesJB4 HughesJB4 wrote:

Studying theory will help to improve your skills in music across the board, not just in composition.
We need to know a bit more about what you are currently/ or want to start studying to help you out a bit more on what you should know etc. Getting a theory teacher can really help too, or even just a general instrument teacher helps (although I'm myself self taught in both areas, there has been many times I've come across classically trained kids that didn't know about certain concepts that I even knew about).


Well I'm really just starting to get into the keyboard. I want to eventually play the synth, although I'm not sure if the synth and keyboard are interchangeable? But anyways, I'm really trying to work on things that will help me down the road towards composing my own music. I'm not really trying to be a cover artist.
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keiser willhelm View Drop Down
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Points: 1697 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 02 2008 at 19:32
Theory is a great base, if not the only base with which to build a composition around. To some people it comes naturally and it just feels right to put certain notes in certain places but in advanced compositions id say its impossible to compose anything without theory.
there are certain notes which sound 'good' together. there. theory. Ive played the piano for close to 11 years now and i still have trouble with theory, and i dont even try to write!
What im listening to
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Points: 6890 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 02 2008 at 19:38
Originally posted by prolificprogger prolificprogger wrote:

I have a question about music composition. Will studying music theory help to improve my music composition skills?
 
Definately!
 
I took a music theory class this year at my school, and I've learned so much about tonal harmonies, structures, key and modulations. Even time signatures and voice leading took up big portions. Really yo wont go very far in music if you dont too much about theory.
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Dean View Drop Down
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Points: 37575 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 02 2008 at 20:01
You can compose without formally knowing music theory, (just look at Lennon & McCartney), since as you learn to play an instrument you pick up many of the rules of music composition just by seeing how different tunes are put together. From this you develop an intuitive knowledge of what works and what doesn't.
 
What understanding even the rudiments of music theory does is explain why you do what you do and why that works. But what it will also do is allow you to see alternative ways of doing it and when (and how) you can break these "rules".
 
To start I sugest you go to a library, borrow any book on Music Theory and skim it - I'm fairly certain that you will find something in there that will click or register with something you do because you've always done it like that and you'll see it in a new light. If you don't, then return the book Wink
 
What?
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Points: 7559 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 04 2008 at 14:05
^Couldn't have put it better myself - nice one.
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
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Statutory-Mike View Drop Down
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Points: 3737 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 04 2008 at 17:47
I'm taking a music theory class next year at my high school, it should really help me take a big step into becoming a better guitar player, and musician overall.
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