learn music theory

Im working on some different time signatures with my music theory. Im a very good tenor sax player, and I can play very fast with a good tone. But, Im a horrible sight reader! Since I learned late, I skipped learning alot about it. Working with time signatures seems to be helping me alot.

I used to learn piano when I was little but dropped it after Grade 1. I’d really love to pick up music again – singing, instruments, everything – and it’s important that I pick up the theory too! I feel like it could be a good initial boost since I have always been good at learning from books, and if I can get a grade in theory relatively quickly it will spur me on to achieve with instruments.

So my goal for this month is to learn & memorize the Major scale for each key.
August 11th 2009

I know that I don’t have the drive to become a music major, I don’t have the dedication or the will to give up everything else that I love, to possibly sacrifice sleep and health to practice…but I’m sick of the superiority that many music majors at IC show towards students with different majors. I really think it’s unwarranted and disrespectful.

I want to learn music theory so that I know the basics of musicality. I want to know chords and and scales and everything. Having played trumpet for about 10 years, I know how to read music. But I want to know more about composition and method. Music history is fascinating too! I want to learn what Music majors learn…without the degree, and at my own pace.

I love music. It is one of those things that always makes me feel alive.

Photo credit to DA TehMessenjah.

I have been reading a pdf book but its much more complicated than having a book in your hand where you can go to the piano and feel the notes. If I have money next week I will definetly buy a book.

I’m learning from 3 books:
-Complete Idiot’s Guide to Music Theory
-Complete Idiot’s Guide to Composition
-Edly’s Music Theory for Practical People

Just need to slowly work my way through them and continue recording simple songs to gain experience.

My class for this is over. I really did not do as well as I expected to do in it. But that’s alright. I’ll try to spend some of Christmas break reviewing some of the stuff I didn’t understand, preparing for Music Theory 2. Ay, music theory is tough. I just got lost at the 4 part writing, I believe that was my hardest thus far. I’m going to be studying that and trying to get on top of it before the next semester begins :)

For some reason, I can’t take classes on music theory. I think it’s anxiety. So I’ve got me a textbook. First couple chapters are basically just reading music, and I keep reading them, going “I know this,” doing the exercises, getting bored and self-deprecating, putting them down, and getting out of practice again. But last night I noticed that chapter 3 is counterpoint! So after a few minutes of beating myself over the head with a treble clef until I don’t have to count lines to find A, I’m back at it. I don’t care if I do half the exercises and drop the book again for months. I’ll actually learn something I haven’t theoretically learned five times already.

I took a basic guitar class over the summer and feel like my grip on the basics is fairly strong. I would like to learn more about composing, for sure, but I don’t know how long it will be before I can. =]

there are so many other things that I need to focus on. Maybe sometime in the future I will start working on this one again.