Use of Music Theory in Composition?

Question

I've been told by many people that music theory is not *normative*; it doesn't tell you what to write or do in music to create something beautiful that sounds good. I've been told that it's strictly *descriptive*; that is, it describes a set of observed patterns in music that (someone) thinks sounds good, or that is frequently written. So with that in mind, I want to ask about theory and composition. How is theory supposed to inform composition? Some musicians seem to have a deep theoretical knowledge, and regardless of what they would say their mental process is, this seems to affect the way that they compose, since they can't "un-learn" certain patterns. On the other hand, there are untutored musicians who know nothing about theory, and who in some sense are more "free to break the rules", being unaware of what the rules are. **EDIT** - This question has already gotten a lot of attention, and several good answers. I'm starting to think the original question is a bit flawed; here are three big things I've gleaned: - Several answers point out that people who don't know any formal theory still adhere to many patterns described by formal theory, in the way that a child who speaks English knows sentence grammar without knowing the terms of academic structure of grammar. In this way perhaps, they're "using theory" without having a conscious awareness of rules and terminology like chromatic mediants, modulation, etc. - Another perspective here is that focusing on the connection between theory and composition is the wrong focus, because what matters is whether the result is good, pleasing, unexpected (pick your descriptive term). If it is, then it doesn't matter what the theory connection was. If it isn't, then clearly it also doesn't matter what the theory connection was. - There's a fair amount of concern about the interplay between theory and creativity. Does knowing theory make you more creative, or less creative? There's no consensus, it appears the answer is "both, depending on who you talk to".

Answer 1

Let' start by saying it's music "theory" not music "fact" To address your question of does knowing theory make you more creative or not: Creativity to me is not born out of technical skills. Creativity is that abstract that makes us turn a blank sheet of music and turn it Ito something new and exciting. That being said, the theory vs no theory debate has merits on both sides. We learn from listening to and or studying music and no matter what the genre, there are progressions, melodic sequences, etc that have worked since the beginning of musical time.

Lets' use Lennon.McCartney as examples. They knew nothing of music yet explored odd meters, multiple modulations, modal melodies and the list goes on. However their development was in direct relation to what and who they were listening too at the time. There earlier material reflected typical R&R, R&B progressions of the time. s they branched out listening to some of the classic composers and experimentalists such as Stockhausen, and others, their music reflected that. This is sort of an example of learning theory without learning theory.

Having extensive knowledge of theory does not mean a composer is sitting there thinking theoretically. No one sits and says I could go to a plagal cadence here, and get a few borrowed chords, then use tritone substitutions on the bridge etc. You simply have a greater vocabulary to choose from. And it's not a conscious choice. When you learn a new word you try and use it and once it is part of your lexicon you never think of it again, you just use when called for. Music is the same. The noted jazz guitarist Pat Martino once told me at an early stage in my development, "learn everything you can about music and then forget it!" At the time I didn't quite understand it but as I grew, I got it. You internalize music theory and concepts thus never having to think of it. You don't consciously think left foot right foot when walking but at one point in your early stages your brain did exactly that. Then once it was internalized you just walked, ran or whatever.

So I don't feel theory and creativity are directly linked except in the fact that the more you know the more easy it can be to compose.

Not having musical knowledge does not make you freer. You are still coming from a place of understanding even if it has osmosed listening to others. Chances are, what you may think of as someone "breaking rules" really has a theoretical explanation. It just may not be known to you.

So I will close with the Pat Martino quote. "learn everything you can about music and then forget it!"