Learn Music Theory from an Expert Teacher

Many people that want to learn to play music have a distinct style or sound in mind. However, they may not know much about the rules and guidelines that dictate modern music as we know it today, also known as music theory.

Why Should You Learn Music Theory?

Music theory is made up of several common conventions that help students understand the common patterns found in modern music making. Music theory students learn important information about notes, rhythm, and performance tactics that help them to be better informed with their practicing. The information you learn in music theory lessons is what allows you to understand and be able to read sheet music.

Understanding music theory can be difficult for some. As you get deeper and deeper into more complex concepts in theory such as learning about chordal structures and harmonic practices, it may start to feel overwhelming. However, your music theory practice can be taken completely at your own pace in order to make sure you understand the foundations before moving on to more detailed information.

As you develop an understanding of basic music theory practices, your knowledge will help you get better and better at playing your instrument. No matter if you choose to take up singing, piano, violin, or any other common instrument, understanding music theory will help you to improve your technical playing skills as well as your overall understanding of how your instrument can interact with others when playing together.

One of the most important benefits of understanding music theory is being able to read music. Standard music notation practices are used across nearly every common instrument family in Western music. This means that not only will you be able to keep up with other musicians with your sight-reading skills and improvisation ideas, you’ll be able to pick up another instrument more easily and faster if and when you choose to expand your musical abilities.

The History of Music Theory Today

Music has existed in many different forms throughout history across the world. Some cultures have traditional music that focuses more on rhythmic elements like drumming or vocalizing on beat with almost no use of melody or harmony; some cultures have traditional music that prioritizes melodic and harmonic movement with a gentle rhythmic center to guide the songs and keep the performers together; and some cultures combine rhythm, melody, and harmony in completely unique ways.

At its core, music theory came about in different forms for different cultures in order to create a more generalized understanding of how the culture’s musical practices worked. Though many ancient countries such as Greece, China, India, and even Mesopotamia left behind writings outlining the common instrument tunings as well as notated music for performers, the type of music theory that we use in the common practice today came from the churches of Europe.

The earliest forms of standard music notation were used for the monks of the Middle Ages and Renaissance era to write down their chants and be able to pass them down between generations. Over time, this form of notation became more and more detailed and was used by emerging composers who primarily wrote music for church services. Because the church was incredibly influential in Europe in those days, the notation practices used for their music became standard throughout the continent, eventually spreading to many other continents as well.

Standard musical notation and basic music theory practices have been used by trained musicians in the United States since its inception. Though many forms of traditional American music such as bluegrass, the blues, and folk weren’t typically notated and were rather passed down by rote, musicians with an understanding of music theory and notation are able to notate these tunes, allowing them to be widespread.

Understanding Music Theory with Online Lessons

Today, there are so many free resources available online for anyone to peruse. Having access to these resources can help new music students develop basic knowledge of how music theory works; however, there a few key reasons why students that are serious about developing their musical skills should seek music theory lessons online.

Different students require different methods of teaching in order to truly grasp a subject. If you feel that you need a more hands-on approach in order to get a feel for a new topic, you will most likely struggle with learning music theory on your own. Additionally, certain areas of music theory like rhythm and chord structures can be somewhat mathematical, making them difficult for some students to understand without a detailed explanation from a trained teacher.

All new students will reach a point with their individual music theory practice where they become too advanced to properly teach themselves. While students can get a gist of the basics of notes, rhythms, reading music, and how harmony and melody typically work, they will likely have trouble grasping the more complex ideas in advanced music theory without an instructor to guide them.

Another important point to note is the fact that different styles of music interact with music theory differently. For example, learning the theory behind how classical music is typically constructed and the theory behind how jazz music is typically constructed can be extremely different in many ways, which is understandable considering how differently these two genres can sound from each other. A high-quality online music theory teacher can tailor your theory training to the exact styles and genres that you want to learn about.

Find Your Music Theory Teacher Online at TakeLessons

Understanding music theory is more than just knowing how to read music or recognizing common harmonic and melodic practices. A deep knowledge of music theory allows you to better understand the different paths that music has taken over the centuries, from classical to jazz to modern pop and everything in between. If you’re looking to expand your knowledge of music, the perfect teacher for you can be found on TakeLessons.

One of the most significant benefits that individual music theory lessons can provide is the personalized instruction that a teacher who is dedicated to your growth can provide. Luckily, this benefit is not exclusive to in-person lessons. Online music theory lessons can be just as effective and individualized as in-person meetings and also offer their own distinct set of benefits.

Music students that want to develop their knowledge of music theory can often be prevented from reaching this goal by a lack of transportation or free time. The fact is, commuting to and from in-person music theory lessons can take up more time than students have to give, especially for adult students who have busy lives and responsibilities to tend to. Plus, not everyone has access to a car or even public transportation in order to get to a theory lesson each week.

With online music theory lessons at TakeLessons, you can learn more about music theory from the comfort and safety of your own home. You’ll never have to worry about feeling intimidated by entering your teacher’s studio and you’ll be able to focus on your studies, rather than worrying about getting used to a new environment. Additionally, you’ll be able to save hours each lesson day by not having to commute or search for parking.

Narrow Down Your Options with Customizable Searching on TakeLessons

Our site features over 200 highly qualified and excellent music theory teachers, and trying to choose the right teacher for you out of a list that long can feel intimidating. That’s why we recommend using our customizable search function to enter a few pieces of basic information before getting more detailed with your decision-making.

Make sure to specify what day of the week you’re available for lessons, how much you’re willing to pay per lesson, and your age. This information will rule out any potential teachers that may not be available on the same days that you are or teachers that are outside of your price range. Plus, some of our teachers prefer to teach more advanced students, while some are open to all levels or mostly teach beginners.

Once you’ve narrowed down your search with these details, you should have an easier time finding an online music theory teacher to choose. In order to get a feel for your potential teacher’s personality and teaching style, we recommend checking out their bio on their personalized profile. This will allow you to learn more about their background in their own words.

Additionally, reading the reviews left by previous students can be very illuminating. These reviews will allow you to get a glimpse of what the lesson experience will be like from the perspective of another student.