What is music theory?
Q: What is music theory?
A: Music theory is the study of how existing music works and how new music could or should be organized. It involves understanding what makes the music sound the way it does, as well as studying harmony, counterpoint, form, and performance practice.
Q: Who are some famous people who studied music theory?
A: Famous people who studied music theory include Pythagoras in Ancient Greece, several theorists from the Middle Ages, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach in the 18th century, and Leopold Mozart in the 18th century.
Q: How can studying music theory help composers?
A: Studying music theory can help composers by teaching them “rules” that describe what great composers of the past did when writing their own pieces. This knowledge can then be used to inform their own compositions.
Q: How can studying music theory help performers?
A: Studying music theory can help performers better understand and interpret a piece of musical work they are playing or singing. This includes learning about rhythms, ornaments, harmony and counterpoint which will all contribute to a more accurate performance of a piece of work.
Q: What is "performance practice"?
A: Performance practice refers to how certain pieces were performed in different eras; this includes information on rhythm patterns and ornamentation which was unique to each era's style of composition.
Q: What did Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach write about?
A: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach wrote a book called “An Essay on the true art of playing Keyboard” which focused on performance practice; specifically it discussed how certain rhythms were played quite freely and how ornaments were used in compositions from that time period.
Q: What did Leopold Mozart write about? A: Leopold Mozart wrote a book called The Art of Playing Violin which also focused on performance practice; similarly it discussed aspects such as rhythm patterns and ornamentation which were common during his time period.
