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 What is music theory about, anyway? 
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Post Re: What is music theory about, anyway?
Hey Ma Monk.

I've read this post a second time since yesterday morning and I'm glad I did.

My original response was, "oh why are we dissecting the semantics of what music theory is" and then I got over it. :lol:

I do know what you mean about music theory as it's taught at Uni and that it's a series of guidelines , as opposed to rules. I also think that the notion of rules or, I prefer the word constraints, are prevalent in music, but I also think that these are guide posts.

After all you're only left with navigating the multitudinous options for melody / harmony unless you're given pitch restriction exercise, which is about my favourite thing at Uni.

Stick is most definitely screaming to have grand staff music thrown at it, it's an awesome thing for stringy Sticky people .

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Tue Jan 19, 2016 2:48 pm
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Post Re: What is music theory about, anyway?
keyboards offer the clearest visualization of keys, but harmony can be harder to "see" because of the different appearance of black and white keys. There is something compelling about a keyless geometric grid of frets and strings, as the harmony is clear on the board itself.

I think anyone who wants to know how western music works should avail themselves of the keyboard, but to say that it is "essential" might be a stretch.

Always happy to read what you are writing Randy. I hope to see you publish some of it for wider consumption some day.

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Post Re: What is music theory about, anyway?
Thank you Randy, and Gene, for your kind words.

Nothing I've said should be controversial. "Music Theory" is as standardized as the study of engineering. Schools do generally require that the student take piano concurrently, or test out. Otherwise, how is one to hear the musical examples? A computer program...? A marimba, perhaps. Or you could sing them with three of your friends. I'd have thought people would be excited to know that you can substitute the Stick.

That the instrument can handle the standardized curriculum is a proof of its versatility and I am amused that not everyone sees that.


Mad Monk.

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Tue Jan 19, 2016 5:24 pm
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Post Re: What is music theory about, anyway?
mad_monk wrote:
Thank you Randy, and Gene, for your kind words.

Nothing I've said should be controversial. "Music Theory" is as standardized as the study of engineering. Schools do generally require that the student take piano concurrently, or test out. Otherwise, how is one to hear the musical examples? A computer program...? A marimba, perhaps. Or you could sing them with three of your friends. I'd have thought people would be excited to know that you can substitute the Stick.

That the instrument can handle the standardized curriculum is a proof of its versatility and I am amused that not everyone sees that as a good thing.


Mad Monk.


Aimed at me, I am sure. Oh well.

No disrespect intended, but your original post seemed rather dismissive to two instruments I am passionate about; Guitar and Stick. A lot can be said and explained with a guitar, that's really all I was trying to say. While piano is a formidable instrument (I love keys) let's not diminish the power and versatility of the 'ole 6 string - people seem to be using them a lot these days... Live and let live, I guess.

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Tue Jan 19, 2016 6:47 pm
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Post Re: What is music theory about, anyway?
Great video Gene, thanks for sharing.

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Tue Jan 19, 2016 8:59 pm
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Post Re: What is music theory about, anyway?
I love hearing about all the experience people have prior to picking up the Stick! If you loved First edition Dungeons and Dragons the way I did, you'd know that Stick players would fall squarely as a BARD character class.

The first edition Bard was wicked powerful because they drew upon three different character types - fighter, thief and druid. This allowed them use of armor, spells and a multitude of weaponry!

What the heck does that have to do with what we are talking here? Perhaps nothing, or maybe EVERYTHING! Most all Stickists have experience in other instruments, it's as though one graduates to it. We all play for different reasons and most everyone sees themselves as a pioneer. Otherwise, we'd be watching the Voice on DVR on a Friday night and hitting the Karaoke bar on the weekend (playoffs permitting).

If you've met Randy, you know he knows his stuff and he loves a good discussion on the matter of discipline and study through music as he's an intellectual, plain and simple. He's not anymore right than Scott, Steve or Konrad are about music - we all play for different reasons. To hear him play is unreal - this color of our musical community is truly unique. Before we get into what's wrong and what's right, let's recall that we all started playing music to get laid...

Right...?

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Wed Jan 20, 2016 12:15 am
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Post Re: What is music theory about, anyway?
That crack was not aimed at you, Jayesskerr. I've been trying to drum up interest in this stuff here for many years now, with little success.

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Wed Jan 20, 2016 12:30 am
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Post Re: What is music theory about, anyway?
I sat down at a piano this week at stage band camp and exclaimed.

"Black and white keys,.... why do you do it?!"

Only a Stickist would get it.

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Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:49 am
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Post Re: What is music theory about, anyway?
earthgene wrote:
Before we get into what's wrong and what's right, let's recall that we all started playing music to get laid...
Here, here! I resemble that remark! :D
mad_monk wrote:
Nothing I've said should be controversial. [...]
That the instrument can handle the standardized curriculum is a proof of its versatility and I am amused that not everyone sees that.

Mad Monk.
I see the disconnect, at least for me--I didn't get that your main point was that one could study music theory just using the Stick, rather than piano. I think a couple of us got caught up in the fact that many of us actually learned theory from a bunch of different ways--I was self-taught on piano and could play like a demon years before I ever learned to read a single note and learned names for stuff. But I eventually did. (German sixths, and 4-part harmony, and the names and dates of 47 18th century composers, and even Wagnerian opera, and all that, thanks K-State!) Many got there from guitar. Many fine guitar schools teach theory from the bass guitar and mainly-6-string guitar point of view, and not piano at all--just to be contrary. :)

And yes, if you formally study anywhere other than a guitar school (are there other specialized schools like that?), you'll have to or end up (however you look at it) playing piano, and studying music written or arranged for keyboards. Even the guitar schools are going to prepare you to read music so that you can be a session player. (Others can speak to those schools--I knew many fine musicians out of various Guitar Universities and they all could read music).

And then Gene whipped out the "respect his age and authoriteh!" card and all us whippersnappers got our walkers out and got curmudgeony--even when we knew he didn't mean it that way (nothing but love, Gene--you rock!) But musicians who don't respect authority or respect arguments to respect our elders are not that surprising! :twisted:

Thanks for the conversation, Mr. Mad Monk! I was initially afraid of the chicken or the egg problem though: you can't use Stick to formally learn music theory, because people don't yet use Stick to formally learn music theory, so you can't use Stick to formally study theory....rinse and repeat. Unless someone starts a school or way more people start playing the Stick. Either one or both or something else I don't have the imagination for could happen. And you can certainly learn theory from Steve A or Greg or DBro or any of the other fine teachers around here, and it would be Stick centric and Stick focused.

But to your main point: as a new Stick player (5 months or so), I've not played with Stick Tab or whatever. I was going to ask why you just couldn't use "regular" sheet music but then it occurred to me that you can, you just have more "options" for notes with the redundancy of the 10 or 12 strings. But many guitar players read regular piano grand staffs--hi, Jaysessker you guitar master Grand staff reader/shredder!--and I believe many Stick players can, as you point out and demonstrated going through the 2 year curriculum.

So, really, why couldn't you be a Stick player at any music college or school, just like the trumpet players who barely play piano? Which was your main point, but it took at least me a bit to get there. Cheers!

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Wed Jan 20, 2016 5:03 am
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Post Re: What is music theory about, anyway?
mad_monk wrote:
That crack was not aimed at you, Jayesskerr. I've been trying to drum up interest in this stuff here for many years now, with little success.

Mad Monk.



I'm interested. I practice and study like a demon. Really, really serious about my music path...
I think that I took your post the wrong way is all. Let's begin again, shall we?

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