music theory for musicians and normal people by toby w.

rush

What is Music Theory?

Chances are there’s a piece of music
so then the
bassoon choir
comes in like flaming
honeydew melons
that moves you in a profound way... from on high

a way that is frustratingly difficult

to describe to someone else!

Like other forms of art, music often has the capability

to create emotional reactions in the listener that please
transcends other forms of communication. bradley
it’s late
though a single piece of music
may elicit different reactions
from different listeners, any and if i’m
lover of music will tell you that they’re real, almost
those feelings are real! they’re worthy done
of study.

one of the most valuable parts coming up with terminology

of music theory is giving names to doesn’t just help us talk to
musical structures and processes, others about music, though...
which makes them easier to talk about! it actually helps us learn!

but while it’s an important step, and a great place to start, music theory is
much more than just coming up with names for things!

when composers write music — whether it’s a classical-

era symphony or a bit of japanese post-shibuya-kei
glitch techno — they are not following a particular
set of rules. If anything they are often trying to
break them!
so while a lot of people think music theory is about
learning the rules for how to write music, that’s not
mozar quite right. music theorists don’t create rules for nakata
t
writing music; they look for patterns in music that is
already written.

composers ...theorists
create... analyze!

which leads to the most important why dissect music? what’s the
question... the one that, as you
study music theory, you should be
constantly asking yourself:
why? point of figuring out rules
that composers themselves
weren’t even worried about?

because somewhere maybe it’s in the notes.

in there is the reason maybe it’s in the silence. music theory is
why that piece of music maybe it’s somewhere
moves you. in between.
but figuring out what
music theorists
are going to makes music work.
it may take a
the reason it find it,
long time, or
makes you cry, because...
even create And you just
gives you chills, joined the team.
more questions
reminds you of home. grab your stuff...
than answers.
let’s go!

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