Music Theory; Do you Know it

[stringtapper]

Honestly... you've got me beat by a long shot. I chose option 1 up there because the knowledge I had that might put me in the option 2 category is so dusty and moldy that I'd make a mockery. I've found that the more I know about the rules... the less inclined I am to be original if that makes sense??? My mind starts thinking about whats allowed and whats not and the next thing you know I've talked myself out of writing the song/beat etc.

Somebody told me once that my verses need to be 16 bars... fucked me up for like 2 years. Finally, I stopped worrying about it again and the funny thing is, writing got back to being easy. I stopped worrying about the lines and boxes and started letting the music tell me when. Much simpler in real life vs. the other method... that worked great on paper.

The way I see it, if some motherfucker in Mississippi can nail a cord to a post on a front porch and rock ass with it, who am I to say who "needs" music theory.

[H20nly]

well put.

its a feeling vs. understanding thing... I think having both is the grail.

[ethios4]

Having studied classical and jazz harmony in my undergraduate work I feel like I'm in better shape than those who have only studied one or the other. Jazz harmony nomenclature has the ability to easily communicate things that make classical music theorists' heads explode trying to explain, while classical theoretical studies often involve elements of such complexity that are not to be found in jazz and popular styles.

Yea no kidding. In one afternoon my jazz guitar instructor completely blew my poor little classically trained mind when he pointed out that if you include all of the harmonic extensions possible for any given chord, you have the entire chromatic scale available to you at any given time. Whoa.

Second-species counterpoint....yea, not so much.

[Pitch Black]

I put myself down for a 3. I can't sightread or write dots for shit. When I sat piano exams back in pre-history I always failed the sightreading section, but made it up on the playing/singing by ear section - and got a Merit pass every time!! "101 Hits for Buskers" and guitar tabs was a revelation though!

Then I bought a synthesizer and my journey towards the Dark Side was complete.

[H20nly]

^

[Pitch Black]

[stringtapper]

Having studied classical and jazz harmony in my undergraduate work I feel like I'm in better shape than those who have only studied one or the other. Jazz harmony nomenclature has the ability to easily communicate things that make classical music theorists' heads explode trying to explain, while classical theoretical studies often involve elements of such complexity that are not to be found in jazz and popular styles.

Yea no kidding. In one afternoon my jazz guitar instructor completely blew my poor little classically trained mind when he pointed out that if you include all of the harmonic extensions possible for any given chord, you have the entire chromatic scale available to you at any given time. Whoa.

Second-species counterpoint....yea, not so much.

Ah but I find good counterpoint to be the real spice that makes the difference between music that sounds good and music that really breathes. Knowing how voice leading works is indispensable, IMO.

[ethios4]

Ah but I find good counterpoint to be the real spice that makes the difference between music that sounds good and music that really breathes. Knowing how voice leading works is indispensable, IMO.

Reviewing the rules for species counterpoint again....pretty interesting stuff actually. I suppose I had to mature a bit as a musician. The funny thing about music school for me was that I wrote and performed less music during that time than at any other time since I've been playing music. So I was learning all this theory, but had no time for actually trying to write anything or putting into practice what I was learning. I think I'll review my theory books and see what happens. I imagine they will be much more relevant to me. Very good.

[djsynchro]

"Trance".

I think you mean Tarnce?

[Pitch Black]

"Trance".

I think you mean Tarnce?

It all sounds the same to me...

[derzai]

A diminished second is when two tuba's play in unison.

[derzai]

I voted "Master" because I'm working on a PhD in music theory and it's my business to know as much as I can about how music from all eras, styles, and genres works. What do you want to discuss?

Whats the subject of your PhD ?

I recently had contact with a Professor at McGill in Canada, I could sent you through if you want.

[stringtapper]

I voted "Master" because I'm working on a PhD in music theory and it's my business to know as much as I can about how music from all eras, styles, and genres works. What do you want to discuss?

Whats the subject of your PhD ?

I recently had contact with a Professor at McGill in Canada, I could sent you through if you want.

Haven't settled on a dissertation topic yet, but I'm looking in the direction of analysis of interactive computer music. It's something that the composers themselves are talking about, but theorists don't seem to have a clue about what to say at this point.

Who's the professor you are in contact with? Bill Caplin and Peter Schubert are two of the prominent theorists on their faculty that I know of.

[derzai]

Bill Caplin

I'm studying his book "Classical Form" and found a small mistake. I was the first one he said.

[derzai]

Haven't settled on a dissertation topic yet, but I'm looking in the direction of analysis of interactive computer music. It's something that the composers themselves are talking about, but theorists don't seem to have a clue about what to say at this point.

You've checked this site. He's Professor in Gent, Belgium.

http://www.logosfoundation.org/index-god.html