Music theory mythsMyth: you can learn how music works by studying individual elements of music out of context.Truth: studying intervals, triads, seventh chords, eleventh chords etc. by themselves does not teach you how music works. Most available theory and ear training tools perpetuate this myth. Chords have harmonic meaning mainly in relationship to each other. Myth: you first have to study intervals to learn how music works. Truth: you don't have to know anything about intervals to hear the harmonies in music. Intervals are overemphasized in music education. If you are a singer or aspire to be one, you will need to learn them at some point, although even in this case their importance and proper use is usually distorted (see Chapter 6 in the Seven Harmonies book). Myth: you have to study chord configurations (triads, sevenths etc) to learn how music works. Truth: there are a small number (seven) of basic harmonies. They are not different kinds of chord configurations; they are all simple chords, each based on a different note of the scale. Understanding how music works simply means learning how to hear them and getting familiar with how they are used. "Mechanical music theory" is not needed to do this. It is mainly an experiential process: listen to guided examples, then listen for the harmonies in everyday music. Myth: the secrets of how music works are complex and difficult to learn. Truth: The most important keys to understanding music are the seven harmonies, and they are not complex, and can be learned by watching and listening to multimedia examples. And there is no need for the usual authoritarian right/wrong style of teaching theory. |