These words were uttered from the mouth of my third grade teacher Ms. Kratz way back in 1981. A few weeks prior, my music teacher, Mr. Snouffer, pulled me into the tiny, dingy backstage area of our little cafeteria stage at Whitehall Elementary School in Williamstown, New Jersey. He asked if I knew the words to Barry Manilow’s, “I Made it Through the Rain.” I said yes, and he asked me to sing it. I have no idea how in 3rd grade I knew the words to that song. Let’s just say that from a very young age I knew I was not like the other kids. Apparently, Mr. Snouffer saw a spark in me when I sang in music class, and he was checking to see if I could make it in the chorus. He decided I could and let Ms. Kratz deliver the message. He did not know the impact that this simple gesture would have on my life.

Right around this time my dad took off and my mom had to find the humility and courage to accept government assistance in order to keep our home. In addition, I had begun to painfully hear my name called early in the morning every Monday to pick up my “free lunch” ticket for the week. This was humiliating at first, and eventually just became reality. To top it all off, while my brothers were excelling in academics and athletics, I was falling behind in Math. This led to me having a tutor outside of school. Actually, though, I would still be falling behind in Math if you asked me to compute anything beyond basic Algebra.

Mr. Snouffer was the first male figure in my life who took an active interest in my talents and abilities. His invitation to me to participate in the school choir was my first taste of accomplishment in my own rite. I went on to place competitively in All State and Region Choirs in New Jersey, win regional teen arts festivals, star in my schools plays and musicals, and I have done some acting as an adult. Above all, I still reap the rewards that involvement in the performing arts provides. Those are willingness to risk and face fears, discipline, self-confidence, collaboration, team work, and great appreciation for all arts and the value that they have in our culture.

In addition, I learned a great lesson about failure from my early days in choir. I was one of the only Jewish people in my small elementary school; therefore, Mr. Snouffer invited me to introduce the Chanukah song during our Christmas concert one year. During all of our school performances I did my introduction flawlessly. Our parent/evening performances had actually become so popular that the cafeteria was full of kids sitting in the aisles and people standing along the sides. This was my first time presenting in front of a large group of people alone. One of my classmates thought it was really cool to see me up there and he yelled my name from the audience. It turned out that I was quite unprepared for this. When I heard my name I froze, and completely broke down. I had to be ushered off the stage and miss the entire song that I was supposed to introduce. I was devastated. The lesson came when Mr. Snouffer told me that it was ok. He even went as far as to take accountability for my breakdown. He let me know that since I had done so well during our school performances that he didn’t think to tell me to look at the back wall during the evening performance. Looking back, I can honestly say that it this experience in choir was the first time I learned that it is ok to take risks, even fail, get back up, and keep going and learning.

A few months ago, after 29 years, I reached out to Mr. Snouffer with a letter of appreciation. He was grateful to hear from me and appreciative of my willingness to let him know about the impact this simple gesture had on my life. He also expressed that as a teacher (now directing an expansive Choir Department at Westlake High School in Austin, TX), you can’t ever really know which moments or gestures will have an impact on your students. I suggested that perhaps the only real objective is to be fully present and real in each moment and from there we can have significant impact.

Writing my letter of appreciation to Mr. Snouffer allowed me to reconnect with a formative moment in my personal history and inspire a great teacher. Also, while our current economy is eliciting budget cuts in very painful areas like education and arts education, I am reminded how critically important it is for children to have the opportunity to broaden their minds and experience through participating in the arts and art education. I reiterate, there are many qualities that are honed through music education, including discipline, team work, communication, perseverance, self-mastery, and courage. Also, it has been illustrated that children who study music are more likely to graduate high school and go on to college.

I want to encourage you to take a few moments to contemplate the people who have had great impact in your life. Maybe you can even reach out to them and let them know. Who were they? How did they impact you?

Music theory is the language of musical construction. Those who understand the language of music, those who can read and write music are called musicians. Just as people who share a common language communicate everyday, musicians communicate through a common musical language.

The language musicians communicate in is not by speaking but rather by the use of sheet music. Sheet music contains information that allows musicians to play the same piece of music on their instruments regardless of which language they speak. People all around the world communicate through the language of music and that is why music is called the universal language.

2) Do I need to know music theory in order to play a musical instrument?

This is a tricky question and the answer is yes and no. Allow me to explain. If some noise or sound has rhythm, a melody, and harmony, it can be called music. Without these components it is simply noise or organized noise.

A musician, someone who understands music theory and is able to communicate in the language of music, will compose a piece of music and know what they are doing and why they are doing it. A musician will know the name of the notes, chords, and scales they are using and more important, they will know why the musical composition works or sounds good.

A musician does not need to hear the musical composition to know wether or not certain notes and chords sound good when played together, because the theory has already determined what note and chord families will sound good together and why it is so.

On the other hand many people who play music, do play by ear. Many of those who play by ear do not know the name of the notes, chords, and scales they are playing, yet they are able to create a musical composition that is pleasing to the ear of the listener.

Players who learn and create music by ear have developed a good sense of pitch and as they continue to train their ear, their ability to identify notes, chords, and qualities of chords, will improve.

Typically, those who play by ear are limited to playing simple forms of music like blues, rock, pop, and country. It is very difficult to play classical and jazz music without some form of musical training and a decent grasp on music theory.

People who have the ability to learn complex forms of music by ear have an extraordinary musical gift and they might even be considered musical prodigies.

To help draw a distinction between musicians and those who play music by ear I offer this example. A person who uses a computer may not have a clue about how a computer works, yet they can type a letter, send an e-mail, or surf the net. The same is true with music.

So, if a person who plays music by ear creates a musical composition that pleases the ear then they are likely applying principles of music theory wether they realize it or not.

3) Is music theory only beneficial to musicians?

No. Many studies have concluded that those who study music and the arts excel in school, career, and in life.

A degree in music is most always a liberal arts degree and therefore does not limit one to just being a musician. There are many career paths one can pursue with a music degree.

A person who understands music theory will typically pay close attention to the music they are listening to. Musicians will listen for rhythm, melody, harmony, note juxtaposition, point counterpoint, dynamics, etc… The better someone listens and can understand the nuances in the music they are listening to, the more they can enjoy it.

4) What is tablature and is it the same thing as reading music?

Tablature would not be considered reading music. Tablature is a system that shows guitar players exactly what notes and chords to play by showing where to place their fingers on the neck of the guitar. Tablature does not give enough information to play the music as it was written, with tablature you must know the song to be able to play it as it was written.

Tablature is a very effective tool for musicians and players alike and is widely used by both. Accurate tablature will allow a player to to copy a piece of music very close to the way it was written if they are familiar with the piece of music.

Tablature is not the same thing as reading music but it is a very useful tool for learning note for note transcriptions, and is a good learning tool as well.

5) What is the best way to learn music theory?

I believe the best way to learn music theory is through formal musical training. Music study can be acquired at a school that teaches music or by way of private instruction or tutoring. Learning music theory without the assistance of a teacher is possible but it would be a challenge.

My own experience is that the best time to learn music theory is when a person is young, between the ages of 8 and 12 or when a child is in elementary school. The chances of successfully learning music theory seems to be much better when the music training starts at an early age.

To read discussion on this topic visit my blog and remember, in music ignorance isn’t bliss, it just means more work!

]]> http://www.beethoven-stiftung.com/128-what-is-music-theory-faqs.html/feed 0 http://www.beethoven-stiftung.com/44-kids-can-benefit-from-making-music.html http://www.beethoven-stiftung.com/44-kids-can-benefit-from-making-music.html#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:15:17 +0000 admin http://www.aldomusic.com/?p=44 Do you ever wonder why so many elementary schools do what they can to include some sort of musical education into their programs? At first glance music education may not seem all that important compared to learning how to read and write, and is thus often one of the first programs to be cut. Fortunately more and more people start to realize how important making music is and that our kids can greatly benefit from it.

You don’t have to wait until first grade though to let your child start making music. Music can be used as a developmental tool from the time your child is just a few months old. For babies and toddlers, making music is a great way to learn about cause and effect. Think of the baby rattle, when your baby shakes it, it makes a sound. Toddlers will spend hours banging on pots and pans, or hammering on a piano. This kind of playing not only reinforces the cause and effect principal, but also builds your child’s confidence. He’s feeling all grown up and loves having the people he loves watch him “make music”.

As your child grows older, music and different musical instruments are a great way to explore different cultures and customs. Use music from a different country to start a conversation with your child about the culture and people of this region and how their music is affected by their surroundings.

Music also stimulates your child’s brain and helps in the development of areas of the brain that are also used for solving math problems. Children, who are exposed to playing music early on, tend to do better in math and science. Take a little time each week to make music with your child. When you travel, look for simple “native” instruments to bring back as souvenirs. They are a great interactive way for your child to remember the trip. Dig out some of your own old instruments, buy an inexpensive recorder or guitar and play around on it.

Music education not only provides children with a terrific healthy outlet for self-expression, it enhances creativity and boosts self-esteem. There are a number of ways for parents to help their child receive quality education in music, starting as young as birth. The most important thing is to expose your child to a variety of music, including several different genres, not just classical or kid’s music.

Sing songs to your infant each day. Fun, repetitive songs with movements or motions are best and as your child gets older, you can encourage her to join in. By the toddler years, your little one can dance along with music. Continue to sing simple silly songs with your toddler and dance together to a variety of songs, both upbeat and slow. Toys, like the Baby Einstein Learning Sounds Piano, will allow your toddler to create her own beats and songs.

Preschool age children can begin to differentiate between tones and pitches. Play games to pick which note is higher and which is lower. Introduce your preschooler to the specific sounds made by various instruments as well. Continue to listen to many different types of music with your preschooler and discuss how various pieces make you and our child feel.

Make musical instruments with your preschooler and play them together. Shakers are easy to make out of ordinary household items. Attach two paper plates together with a hole puncher and yarn or cover the ends of a toilet paper tube with construction paper and fill either with dry beans or rice. A coffee can and lid can be used as a drum. Have fun and use your imagination to create your own family band.

You may want to start formal music education with music lessons at this age. Discuss how various instruments are played and allow your child to choose the one he would like to learn. Visit a symphony or orchestra performance to investigate the various instruments. Piano lessons are typically best for this age because your child will learn to read and play music without having to remember difficult fingering techniques.

Continue your child’s music education as she enters elementary school. As your child gets older, she may begin to prefer a certain genre of music, but keep exposing her to a variety of music. Allow her to start learning an instrument by this age and make practice a part of her daily routine. Provide your child with encouragement and support in her musical endeavors.

By the middle school and high school years, encourage your child to be a part of a band, symphony, or orchestra. Playing music as a group provides even more developmental benefits than playing alone and a teenager’s involvement in a quality music program is important for self-development.

Music, even without the educational benefits research has proven, is a fun and relaxing pastime. Start at a very young age to instill the love of music in your child and continue throughout her childhood to provide an excellent musical education that will drive her future success.