Studying Music Online

Brian John is a Student Advisor at berkleemusic.com. He has a Bachelors in Piano Performance from Miami University of Ohio, and a Masters in Composition from Longy School of Music. Brian’s background is primarily in Classical music, but a 4 year stint in a home-grown jam band gives him a unique perspective on both genres. He continues to compose and perform for people across the US.

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Alright, it’s time to come clean—we all feel the same way about music theory: who wants to study a bunch of stuffy old dead-guy music to learn what people did 200 years ago? There are so many other things to study that are more interesting, helpful, and fun, right? Well, not exactly. Even if you don’t find music theory fun, it’s our history, our tradition, and in essence, the platform upon which all of what we do is built.

Whether we realize it or not, music theory is essential to being a successful musician. It is all around us, built into the core of the Rock, Blues, Jazz, and Classical styles. What makes these styles distinguishable is how they utilize the basic elements of theory. What would Blues be without the 12 bar form? What would Classical be without the big V-I cadence? Our culture is steeped in these traditions, and our ears have been trained to listen for, and even expect, music that follows these rules.

Now, here is why I think music theory is fun, and even exciting (yes, yes I know—bear with me). Because our music follows these rules, and even casual listeners unconsciously expect these conventions, we can create a unique musical experience by messing with the rules. Musicians playing with, stretching, and even breaking musical convention goes back to those stuffy old dead-guys. (If you don’t believe me, check out Haydn’s Surprise Symphony—the guy had a sense of humor!) They realized that keeping the audience engaged was important, and since they did not have fancy flashing lights, background projectors, or fireworks, they used theory.

The clever songwriter, composer, and even soloist learns the rules and conventions of music so that, at the precise moment, they can break the rules and do something so surprising, so unexpected, that they command immediate attention. It doesn’t matter if the audience realizes that the artist threw in a tri-tone substitute dominant, or switched modes, or even just pulled a deceptive cadence—they just know that, instead of the same old patterns, something new just happened. That, my fellow musicians, is the beauty of music theory.

So, the next time you listen to your favorite artist, whether it’s B.B. King, the Beatles, or even Franz Joseph Haydn, think about the moments that really catch your ear and draw you in. Odds are that it’s no accident—that surprising, unexpected, attention-grabbing moment that is the crux of every classic piece has its genesis in music theory.

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Berkleemusic’s online summer term begins June 28, 2010.

Find out more at berkleemusic.com or contact a Student Advisor:

1-866-BERKLEE (USA) | +1 617 747 2146 (Intl) | advisors@berkleemusic.com

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