Importance Of Music Theory For Music Learning

Music Lessons at any age are an a essential part of a well rounded education. Being a music teacher and
advocate for music education of course I believe that, but I’ve seen time and time again the benefits that my students have received over the course of their lives from being involved in music.

There is one aspect which is vital which often gets forgotten as part of the mix of being involved in music, and that is getting a good understanding of music theory.

Here are four reasons why music theory is such an important part of the overall music learning of a music student, and why it shouldn’t be forgotten.

1. Knowing music theory will help you to read music.

This point is obvious, but worth stating up front. Those music students who don’t make any attempt to learn
music theory early in their musical career will always struggle to read music. You might ask... “is reading music that important anyway? Most Rock musicians don’t read music, so why should I?”. However not being able to read music is a real disadvantage as a musician, and one that some carry around for their entire career. If you can get it sorted early by getting a lot of consistent music theory lessons then you’ll find that reading will flow quite easily.

2. Learning music theory will help you communicate with other musicians

The reading of music is just a communications device, nothing more. If you know the language of music
you’ll find that the communication between yourself and the rest of the musicians you are playing with is
vastly improved. It doesn\'t matter if you are playing Violin in a symphony orchestra, or lead guitar in a rock band it is the same thing! If you are playing classical music in an orchestra an understanding of theory will assist you to understand the nuances of the conductor, and communicate with them on a more equal level. In a Rock band if you all understand music theory then you can get through rehearsals much faster as you’ll all be talking the same language to achieve the same things.

3. A knowledge of music theory gives you a context for the music you are playing

If you know music theory well you study all genres of music, from classical through to rock and pop. By doing this you get a feel for why certain chords are used in different places, and why the composer may have chosen to change things at different times. This knowledge is priceless, and you’ll be able to really get inside the music and produce a much more emotional and enjoyable performance.
4. Understanding music theory will allow you to create your own music
This is one of the best benefits of understanding music theory. Knowing music theory will allow you to move
from just being a musician, to being a musician and COMPOSER. Knowing how to compose is nothing more than
taking a small fragment, possibly created while just noodling on your instrument, then using your knowledge
of music theory to work out what you could do with it. Without the knowledge of music theory however you’ll just wind up with a lot of Noodling, and no real music to show for it!
Learning music theory is not difficult to achieve, if the teacher regularly includes good quality music theory worksheets as part of the mix of
music education activities undertaken.