5 Ways Learning Music Theory Can Make You a Better Singer

Do you love to sing? We’ll take a wild guess and say it wasn’t chord progressions and minor scales that caught your interest. But did you know reading music and understanding the theory behind it can actually help you as you learn how to sing? Find out more in this guest post by St. Augustine, FL voice teacher Heather L.

For many singers, music theory is something that they view as an obstacle to be overcome rather than a tool that can actually help them improve their craft. However, there are a number of ways in which learning music theory can actually make you a better singer.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look.

How Long Does it Take to Learn Music Theory?

To learn music theory at a basic level, it only takes a few months – becoming more advanced can take three or four years, but it’s worth it. Here are five ways learning music theory can make you a better singer:

• Understanding music theory will help you to better understand the structure of songs. This, in turn, will help you to figure out how to better arrange your own vocal parts.
• Music theory can help you to better understand harmony and how different notes work together. This knowledge can be invaluable when it comes to creating your own vocal arrangements or solving problems with existing arrangements.
• Learning music theory will also help you to become a more accurate singer. By understanding concepts like pitch and intervals, you’ll be able to identify when you’re singing off-key and make the necessary corrections.
• Music theory can also help you to develop a better sense of rhythm. This is important for both singers and songwriters alike, as it can help you to better keep time and create more interesting and complex rhythms in your music.
• Understanding music theory will help you to communicate better with fellow performers. Once you all have a baseline, you’ll be better at playing and performing together.

Now that you know the benefits of learning music theory, it’s time to sign up for music lessons! Get an idea of how to learn music theory by checking out the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrwEgHDT8jg 

Benefits of Learning Music Theory for Singers

Music theory may not be the most glamorous part of being a singer — after all, no one’s analyzing Brahms’s first symphony at that summer music festival in town, and that new Meghan Trainor song doesn’t discuss inversions and triads. But you know what? A lot of the best vocalists have theory fundamentals down pat. Here’s a list of the best reasons why music theory can help you as you learn how to sing.

1. Versatility

First, understanding music theory can make you a more versatile singer. It’s one thing not to know any music theory and sing simple songs, like “This Land Is Your Land“, but it’s another thing not to know any and then to learn “My Funny Valentine“, or “Lovin’ You“, or a Mozart aria! In other words, learning jazz, classical, and other genres requires some knowledge of music theory. Without it, we musicians wouldn’t be able to understand the symbols and the terms that are in the actual music. What does “piano” or “sforzando” mean? What does that funny-looking symbol mean? What does “D.S. al coda” mean? How do I count this measure? Music theory teaches us all of this!

2. Learning Music

For those who have no or limited music theory knowledge, learning how to read music is certainly not impossible, but it’s certainly not fast or efficient. I see the difference in my students every day. Music theory isn’t just a mundane chore or a rite of passage every musician has to get through. Think of music theory as a set of tools — explanations, vocabulary, ideas — that make you a better, and faster, music learner. Being able to see immediately that that particular passage is really just an F minor scale, and not just a bunch of individual notes, can cut your learning time in half.

3. Auditions and Competitions

Many vocal auditions, competitions, and scholarship opportunities are based, at least partly, on a music theory exam or assessment. I once lost an annual college scholarship only because another applicant beat my music theory test score. If I had only taken the music theory course offered at my public high school and studied even just the basics, then I would’ve gotten a huge help once I went to East Carolina University. Learning music theory opens up opportunities for you as a music student, competitor, and as a college student, because it prepares you for music theory placement tests.

4. Better Songwriting

Recently I was working on a song that I’m writing for my band. The theory knowledge that I have was the only thing that enabled me to write my ideas down on staff paper. Now that I think of it, if I didn’t know how to write the notes and chords of my songs down, then I don’t really know what I would do. Well, I could record it and then have my band try to figure it out by ear. I could play it and have someone else transcribe it, but it’s tough to find anyone who can do that, and they’ll usually charge by the hour or by the piece of music. Knowing your music theory means that you have a better understanding of how music is constructed, so you’ll be a more confident songwriter. Learning music theory paves the way for your potential career as a songwriter, arranger, or composer. And besides, you’ll be better able to write songs that fit your range!

5. Easier Communication