What is music theory?

Music theory is about how music works. It explains how sounds are put together to form music, how that music is written down, and the terminology needed to discuss that music.

Why should I learn music theory?

Whether you are learning to play an instrument on your own, wanting to compose music or wanting to communicate with others in a group about music, having an understanding of music theory will be hugely useful.

If you are learning to read music from a page, understanding the pitches, tempo, rhythms, pulse, dynamics etc that the composer intended is hugely helpful to accurately play that music. The more fluently you can make sense of the markings on the page, the easier you will find it to learn lots of repertoire.

If you are composing music, having an understanding of which notes and chords will go together, how to create a “home” key for your music, and how to create the contrasts that make music exciting will enable you to create memorable music. Being able to have the musical terminology to record your composition will then allow others to play your music!

If you are playing music in a group, having a common set of terminology to discuss what you are playing makes rehearsing an awful lot easier too!

Can I teach myself music theory?

Yes. Music theory is best understood when it is learnt alongside practical instrumental learning, but it is certainly something you can do yourself if you work through it logically. There are plenty of youtube videos that explain the basic concepts of music theory - check out our youtube channel or library of bitesize videos to find some! A lot of the music theory books (including the Melodic Decoder ones) have explanations alongside exercises so that you can work through the syllabus on your own.

What is the best age to learn music theory?

Kids really can start learning music theory at any age, provided the way it is explained in age-appropriate. The Melodic Decoder books are best used from around the age of 7, but children as young as 4 can read music on a stave and form and read rhythms if taught appropriately. Check out our “Fun Ways to…” page to find some great ways to teach little kids music theory concepts.

Is music theory hard?

Most music theory is not difficult if it is properly explained. It is best to find explanations that don’t use unnecessarily complicated terms and that logically explain concepts from their basic principles.

If there are particular subjects you find interesting at school, use them to help your learning of music theory. For example, if you have a love of history, find out interesting facts about how music writing has changed over time. If you love language, you might particularly enjoy the learning of terms and signs. If you love maths, then learning rhythm and time signatures might be your favourite!

Why is music theory boring?

This is one question I won’t answer, because I don’t think it is boring! As with most things, music theory can be taught in as boring or as fun a way as the teacher makes it! Use the resources on this site to learn music theory the fun way!