5 Absolutely Untrue Myths About Music Theory, That You Should Never Buy Into
Can you or your child play an instrument by ear?
Have you always felt that learning music theory is an absolute waste of time, or a bore?
Well, if you have, you are not alone.
And there might be a variety of different reasons that you bought into that idea.
In this post, I will be sharing the most common myths I’ve come across, when convincing parents that their kids need to learn music theory.
And I will be explaining why those myths are absolutely wrong.
So read on, to find out more.
‘Isn’t Learning Music Theory Just About Memorizing & Learning Notes, What Good Will That Do?’
No, it is much more than that.
Music theory teaches rhythm, beat and composition.
It teaches style and arrangement, all of which cannot be learned by being able to play by ear alone.
Yes, there are many great musicians who couldn’t read a single note of music, but yet made it into the big leagues.
Sir Barry Gibb and his brother of the BeeGees fame come to mind, but you have to remember, they were extremely talented and there were several other catalysts that propelled the BeeGees to the top of the music industry.
Won’t Learning Too Much Theory, Simply Limit My Child’s Creativity In Music?
Again, no.
On the contrary it will help him better understand very complex pieces of music, analyse them and create arrangements of his own, that are top notch.
Too Much Analyzing Does Not Translate To Anything
Yes, it does translate to a lot.
Many of the greatest musicians of our time and before, learned from musicians that came before them.
They did so by analyzing the music of the greatest composers of all time.
This is an essential part of composition and does not inhibit creativity, rather it enhances creativity.
Music Theory Is Too Hard, Too Boring And Just Not Worth The Effort
Yes, it can be hard and it can be boring.
I myself, hated music theory as a child so I do understand the pain.
That is one of the reasons, I have created music theory games and always look for different ways in which I can make it fun and engaging for my students.
A knowledge of music theory is essential and with the right type of teacher and methodology, it can be wonderful.
Oh It Will Only Take Away From Playing Time And Be A Waste
No, it is not a waste.
It will make the learning process quicker, even though at the start it may seem like it is very slow.
But, in the long run, your child will learn a lot more, be able to play more complex pieces, arrange music, and use his knowledge of chord progressions to create amazing melodies.
Now, over to you..
Have you heard these myths in the past and did you buy into them?
Have you heard different myths?
Having read this post, are you convinced that music theory is essential?
Want more justification? Then read my post on 5 Essential Reasons Why Your Child Needs To Learn Music Theory.
Karen Cadera
Founder/Creator
Mom, Teacher, Minimalist, Zero Waste Enthusiast, Multi Pod.
My daughter loved the games, but there were also worksheets and videos. The weekly lesson plans were complete, and I never questioned what I should be doing next.
This program reminded me (and allowed me to teach my son) how to read music. To me, that was the most important thing that we learned together. Of course, it was very rewarding for me to watch my son play the piano with both hands at the same time, while reading sheet music. His favorite parts of the course were actually playing the songs and doing the worksheets provided.
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