The Importance of Learning Music Theory

How learning music theory can broaden your child’s skills — and elevate their passion for practice and performance.

Music theory is often considered a chore by students learning music or taking instrument lessons — they think it’s boring, a waste of time, and something they’ll never actually need as a musician. In reality, without understanding music theory, your child won’t be able to “speak” the language of music. While some musicians wear their lack of music-theory knowledge as a badge of honor, there’s a reason most music majors are required to take multiple semesters of music theory: It’s the primary way in which composers and musicians communicate with each other. And learning music theory is key if your child is doing well with music lessons and seems serious about performing or becoming a professional musician. Read on for more reasons why learning music theory is essential to your child’s growth as a musician.

Understanding How Music Works

Simply put, learning music theory helps students understand how music works. When taking music lessons, students may find themselves wondering why a certain note was chosen or what those funny symbols in a piece of sheet music mean. Learning music theory helps students answer these questions. For students who want to play in an ensemble or band, understanding music theory will make it easier for them to play in harmony and in time with other musicians.

Theory might seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be, and becoming acquainted with a few basic musical systems can make a tremendous difference in your child’s understanding. So where should they begin? To start, they’ll need to understand that Western music is based on 12 distinct pitches, referred to as the chromatic scale. These pitches are named using a musical alphabet of seven letters: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. The five remaining notes are located in between most of those lettered notes, and are identified using the term sharp, or the # symbol, or flat, notated with a b symbol. For example, the note between A and B could be called A-sharp (A#) or B-flat (Bb); it will sound the same but is notated differently depending on its context in a piece of music.

Next, they should check out some sheet music. They’ll want to be able to identify major components like the musical staff, the treble and bass clefs, the time signature, the key signature and basic note values.

Learning about fundamental scales is also essential — including the major scale, natural minor scale and chromatic scale. Understanding the intervals — the distances between notes — in these scales is crucial. From there, they’ll be on their way to understanding melody, harmony, rhythm and other principal topics.

It’s important to note that theory can easily be woven into any instrument lesson. From analyzing a piece of music to ear training and transcribing songs, a wide range of engaging exercises can be used to cover theory. Talk to your child’s Music & Arts teacher about how music theory can be included in lessons.

Dispelling a Common Myth About Music Theory

It’s a common misconception that theory is something only musicians in serious genres, like classical and jazz, need to master. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Plenty of great pop, rock, R&B, blues and country artists have a firm grasp of music theory, which they use every day to improve their music. To name one example: A rock guitarist who understands harmony is going to play more interesting solos than a player who uses one scale throughout an entire chord progression.

Can you become a good musician without theory? Of course. But the bottom line is that theory knowledge improves musicianship across genres and instruments.

What Are the Seven Concepts of Music?

Through notation and analysis, music theory covers all areas of music making, which are often defined using these seven foundational concepts.

Music Theory Can Help You Learn an Instrument Faster

Two musicians are hired to play in a recording session: One is proficent in music theory and the other is not. To play the same part, the musician who doesn’t understand theory will need the producer, composer or arranger to sing the part for them, over and over, until they can memorize it. When the composer wants to provide additional instruction, they’ll need to use general adjectives rather than precise technical language. On the other hand, the player who is experienced with music theory can easily understand the composer’s guidance, and can read a score that outlines the melody and harmony of their part. They nail the part in the studio twice as quickly as the musician who isn’t theory-capable.

This anecdote uses professional musicians, but understanding theory puts any musician on better footing — including your child. In the example above, simply swap composer or producer with band director or lessons teacher. Rather than mere memorization and repetition of movement, music theory will help your child understand why something is happening in music. Think of using GPS to navigate a city vs. actually understanding the layout of the highways and surface roads. In band or orchestra and private lessons, your child will be able to communicate in an easier and more effective way. And when they can read music and recognize patterns, scales, chord progressions and other musical systems, they’ll be able to master new songs and concepts much faster. 

Even composing and improvising accelerates with theory knowledge. Theory is like a series of shortcuts that lets us know which notes, chords and rhythms work well together — cutting down on time-consuming trial and error.

Music Theory Encourages Independent Learning

As they spend more time with music theory and notation, your child will be able to work through pieces on their own, isolating challenging passages for focused practice. As part of their theory studies, your child will also engage in ear training. By learning to identify and notate intervals, melodies, chords and other musical elements, they’ll develop the skills needed to transcribe their favorite songs — a great way to boost their motivation to practice.

In addition to progressing more easily, students who know music theory tend to be more confident in their abilities, and are more likely to want to continue learning music over time. So if you’re concerned that your child will give up the cello or clarinet after a couple years, getting them interested in music theory now could help ensure their dedication. Music theory also creates a foundational understanding that makes it easier for students to pick up multiple instruments down the line.

What’s more, learning music theory is a fulfilling pursuit that builds confidence and boosts self-esteem — and that sense of worth extends beyond the lesson studio or the band room into all areas of life.

Learning Music Theory Can Improve Critical Thinking Skills

Music students need to think beyond the exam and maximize their analytical thinking, and music theory lessons are the perfect place to do so. Music theory is rewarding but challenging: It requires both the right and left brain to comprehend, and incorporates several academic disciplines at once — including, when it comes to rhythm, plenty of math.

Teaching music theory is the art of breaking down complex systems into digestible concepts, helping students understand how principles are interrelated and how to integrate ideas into a cohesive whole. Researchers also claim that learning music theory is like learning a different language because it stimulates the same areas of the brain.

Music Theory as a Foundation

At the end of the day, learning music theory will help your child become a well-rounded musician, and make it possible for them to progress more quickly and efficiently. If your child has ever considered learning multiple instruments or composing music themselves, music theory is a critical component of their goals. As with any language, understanding music theory will foster clear and accurate communication. Consider music theory an essential part of your child’s music education.

Find the perfect teacher for your family at Music & Arts!