Learning music theory will ruin composing ability ?

chaoticbrain · 09-03-2013, 09:35 AM

So, I'm very into creating and composing music in my head, I do it all the time and would really like to attempt actual music composition and I imagine music theory should be part of that. However I get this fear that if I memorize notes, and understand patterns in music it will ruin my natural creative abilities. Am I just being paranoid or is there some truth in this worry ?

Thanks.

Plankton · 09-03-2013, 09:44 AM

You're just being paranoid. Learning music theory will enhance your repertoire, and give you more resources to pull from.

**Janszoon** · 09-03-2013, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaoticbrain

So, I'm very into creating and composing music in my head, I do it all the time and would really like to attempt actual music composition and I imagine music theory should be part of that. However I get this fear that if I memorize notes, and understand patterns in music it will ruin my natural creative abilities. Am I just being paranoid or is there some truth in this worry ?

Thanks.

You're just being paranoid. Learning grammar doesn't make authors less creative, learning music theory doesn't make musicians less creative. If anything, it helps open new creative doors and understand why you make the instinctive decisions you make.

Arya Stark · 09-03-2013, 01:03 PM

I agree with the two posts made before mine! If anything, learning Music Theory helped me be able to compose better!

Surell · 09-03-2013, 03:33 PM

I'm taking a songwriting class right now, and really the very few little things we've talked about so far have taken inhibition mostly out of the picture in terms of the creation process.

Black Francis · 09-03-2013, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plankton

Learning music theory will enhance your repertoire, and give you more resources to pull from.

i agree with this however i don't think you are paranoid in thinking it will change how you compose music cause it will but that's if you let it

i find that with playing music you must never loose touch with that simplistic mindset you had as a music noob

the more we learn about music the more we complicate our songs and sometimes we forget how simple music is

it's whtvr sounds good.. it doesn't have to be that complicated sometimes 2 notes will do

that said, educating yourself in music will prepare you better and give you more options but it's up to you if you let those lessons define how you're gonna sound

IvanMC · 09-07-2013, 01:22 AM

There are different approaches to composing music. One is the one you've mentioned: composing music in your head is supreme indeed. Don't ever leave that. Now, you can go on falling back on that one, but do learn music theory (that's to say harmony and stuff) as well, and adopt this second approach: get to know that theory and you can compose from it; knowing music theory might help you experiment. Everything goes! Acquiring some considerable expertise in music theory does come in handy after all.

lorainedoherty · 11-11-2013, 03:53 AM

Don't be paranoid, just try to learn music as without learning it you will not get command onto it.

Good Guy · 11-11-2013, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surell

I'm taking a songwriting class right now, and really the very few little things we've talked about so far have taken inhibition mostly out of the picture in terms of the creation process.

Thats what I've always found odd about trying to formally teach art.

In regards to music theory I think the majority is right, it'll help you in the long run.

Dr_Rez · 11-15-2013, 07:12 PM

If you learn ANY theory at all you will lose ALL songwriting ability. DO NOT LEARN ANYTHING.

09-03-2013, 09:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
chaoticbrain Groupie Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1	Learning music theory will ruin composing ability ? So, I'm very into creating and composing music in my head, I do it all the time and would really like to attempt actual music composition and I imagine music theory should be part of that. However I get this fear that if I memorize notes, and understand patterns in music it will ruin my natural creative abilities. Am I just being paranoid or is there some truth in this worry ? Thanks.

09-03-2013, 09:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	You're just being paranoid. Learning music theory will enhance your repertoire, and give you more resources to pull from. __________________ See location...

11-15-2013, 07:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dr_Rez Registered Jimmy Rustler Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 5,360	If you learn ANY theory at all you will lose ALL songwriting ability. DO NOT LEARN ANYTHING. __________________ Best chance of losing virginity is in prison crew Always Checks Credentials Crew nba > nfl crew Shave one of my legs to pretend its a girl in my bed crew

09-07-2013, 01:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
IvanMC Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 258	There are different approaches to composing music. One is the one you've mentioned: composing music in your head is supreme indeed. Don't ever leave that. Now, you can go on falling back on that one, but do learn music theory (that's to say harmony and stuff) as well, and adopt this second approach: get to know that theory and you can compose from it; knowing music theory might help you experiment. Everything goes! Acquiring some considerable expertise in music theory does come in handy after all.

11-11-2013, 03:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
lorainedoherty Groupie Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Bethesda, MD,USA Posts: 1	Don't be paranoid, just try to learn music as without learning it you will not get command onto it.