AP Music Theory... A self Study Adventure....

[eupher61]

http://www.musictheory.net/

http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm

decent, if not great and totally in-depth, FREE places to start.

[Richardrichard9]

I agree with some of the people above. You are a bit too worried about the theory, and need to worry about your instrument. Usually the more you study into scales, and the more you play, a lot of it comes to you. I know that's how I learned my rythem's key signature, and relative minors and majors.

I've seen people get into composition programs in conservatories, and they didn't know much at all about theory. Not many high schools in the country offer theory classes either. I know none of the school in my old district did and most colleges understand that.

I plan on Double Majoring in Performance and Music Ed (or if I can't get into the double degree program just Music Ed.)

So I think I should put more emphasis on Theory than a performance only major.

[pierso20]

I agree with some of the people above. You are a bit too worried about the theory, and need to worry about your instrument. Usually the more you study into scales, and the more you play, a lot of it comes to you. I know that's how I learned my rythem's key signature, and relative minors and majors.

I've seen people get into composition programs in conservatories, and they didn't know much at all about theory. Not many high schools in the country offer theory classes either. I know none of the school in my old district did and most colleges understand that.

I plan on Double Majoring in Performance and Music Ed (or if I can't get into the double degree program just Music Ed.)

So I think I should put more emphasis on Theory than a performance only major.

Be careful with all the extra studying for Theory anyhow....my experience is, if you have a lot of knowledge of music theory, you may not have as much theory growing room in a college music school. That is, unless you're a theory major, you will mostly be taking basic/intermediate music theory. And in fact, at my school (and a couple others) Mus Ed and Performance majors take the same amount of theory, and actually the performance are required to take one more theory-like class than Ed majors. You can of course take more advanced theory as electives, but being double-majoring AND being an Ed major, you may not want to be in school forever anyway.

I agree with statements above. Take time to really work out things on your main instrument. It will help your theory/aural skills and also really affect your auditions. Get into school...that's the main thing.

And to disagree with your last statment, being an Ed major doesn't mean you should put more emphasis on learning theory....ALL MUSICIANS should learn theory because it is useful in all music making, not just teaching.

So....to put it short, work on your horn, study what theory you can, but unless you're planning to be a comp. or theory major, don't sweat it so much.

[pierso20]

All good advice "bloke".

I have to agree with you 100%

now.....don't you owe me a couple of cents for that agreement???

[pierso20]

excellent!!! I am now only 999,997 pennies away from another tuba......

[LoyalTubist]

I agree with some of the people above. You are a bit too worried about the theory, and need to worry about your instrument. Usually the more you study into scales, and the more you play, a lot of it comes to you. I know that's how I learned my rythem's key signature, and relative minors and majors.

I've seen people get into composition programs in conservatories, and they didn't know much at all about theory. Not many high schools in the country offer theory classes either. I know none of the school in my old district did and most colleges understand that.

I plan on Double Majoring in Performance and Music Ed (or if I can't get into the double degree program just Music Ed.)

So I think I should put more emphasis on Theory than a performance only major.

I never heard of anyone who successfully graduated this way. You will choose one. You might be an educator who plays good tuba. Don't bite off more than you can chew. It's going to cost more than it's worth.

[tubafatness]

I agree with some of the people above. You are a bit too worried about the theory, and need to worry about your instrument. Usually the more you study into scales, and the more you play, a lot of it comes to you. I know that's how I learned my rythem's key signature, and relative minors and majors.

I've seen people get into composition programs in conservatories, and they didn't know much at all about theory. Not many high schools in the country offer theory classes either. I know none of the school in my old district did and most colleges understand that.

I plan on Double Majoring in Performance and Music Ed (or if I can't get into the double degree program just Music Ed.)

So I think I should put more emphasis on Theory than a performance only major.

Just to get it out up-front, I am strongly for getting a bachelor's in music ed., as opposed to a performance degree. You can try getting both, but that would probably amount to an ungodly amount of work, at almost anywhere you would look to earn these degrees. As for the recommendation that you just go for a performance degree, this is what I have to say about it. Say you play really well, get a performance bachelor's, maybe a graduate degree or two. Now, say you get up one morning, slip on the floor and crack your jaw open. Chances are you could probably never play the same again, and now your handful of performance degrees are all but useless. Now, don't get me wrong here; I think that graduate performance degrees can be a good and useful item. But as a bachelor's degree, performance seems to me to be fairly useless. If you go for a music ed. degree, you have something that you can turn into a healthy and rewarding career, (assuming you are the type of person who can and want to be a good music teacher.) Then again, that's just my two cents on the issue...

[windshieldbug]

I don't remember TOO many people asking if you had a performance degree, and from where, before hiring you to play. Your horn does all the talking, and you'll be studying in the same studio, either way.

Teaching is a different kettle of fish altogether. If you've set your sights on that, then you need to decide where you want to be, and how best to get there.

Either way, you need to manage your career, and it needs care and feeding, just like any non-musical career. Some people know that they want a Wharton MBA to do what they want in business. You need to do the same. Music is NOT a "set it and forget it" career path.

[KevinMadden]

I agree with some of the people above. You are a bit too worried about the theory, and need to worry about your instrument. Usually the more you study into scales, and the more you play, a lot of it comes to you. I know that's how I learned my rythem's key signature, and relative minors and majors.

I've seen people get into composition programs in conservatories, and they didn't know much at all about theory. Not many high schools in the country offer theory classes either. I know none of the school in my old district did and most colleges understand that.

I plan on Double Majoring in Performance and Music Ed (or if I can't get into the double degree program just Music Ed.)

So I think I should put more emphasis on Theory than a performance only major.

I never heard of anyone who successfully graduated this way. You will choose one. You might be an educator who plays good tuba. Don't bite off more than you can chew. It's going to cost more than it's worth.

Actually (having talked to Richardrichard9 about one of his choice schools, and my alma mater, IC) The performance/education double major here is a 9 semester degree that is actually the second biggest degree program (in terms of enrollment) at the school, following behind the straight music ed. track. and It does graduate a large percentage of those who begin it. Many DO become just educators who play good horns, but some DO go into the professional playing world as well. The only difference between the Double and the Ed. are a longer lesson (Ed gets 1/2 hour a week, Double gets a full hour), the requirement of two full recitals (Junior year and Senior Year), and having chamber credit being a requirement (as opposed to something that most do anyway because it's fun).

[Casey Tucker]

Ok, so when i was in high school music theory sounded like a good idea. problem is, not many music schools take AP scores. in fact, the only school in Houston (home town) that will even accept ANY portion of your AP music theory exam is Rice and only if you're a non-major (???). even then you still have to fulfill the other half of the required credits. i took the class and learned a lot. but i saved my cash and bought something useful. the way music theory is taught is different depending on the teacher. learn what you can, save the cash and buy a mouthpiece and practice. good luck!



-casey

[lprince]

The ONLY reasons to study something are :

- a need to know it
- an interest in it
- trusting someone else enough to believe their advice that there is a need to know it
[/b]

that's how it should be, but it ain't how it is. hoop jumping is a part of any career. sometimes the only reason to know something is to pass a test. that being said, most of music theory does not fall into that category, at least not for musicians.

wait til college to take theory, it's probably one of the only formal classes you take with people from your year. It's how you will meet all your friends who aren't brass players (hot string player chicks). concentrate on taking APs for gen ed credits so you can get them out of the way, making more time to practice... or to meet hot string players.

[Richardrichard9]

If your highschol doesnt do anything similar, you could buy a good new mouthpiece, or all the method books you will need for college, or a few solos, which will do you a whole lot better than paying for the test

I only pay $20 for the test, so I don't think I will be able to afford any mouthpieces or too many solos ..

[pierso20]

I think the issue of a double-major is "difficult" depending on where you go.

The double major at the school mentioned having only 9 semester to graduate (4.5 years) sounds like a DREAM to me. My school reguires 149 credits just to obtain a music Ed degree (5 years). So a double major is even more. But at other schools it could be much less.

I agree that if you wanna pursue a performance AND ed degree, you would probably be better off getting just the Ed degree. If you wanted to pursue performance degrees later, then you could do that. But focus on the horn. You can be just as accomplished with an Ed degree. My professer at MSU has a bachelor in music ed, yet play the hell out of his horn.

Just put things in perspective...

LoyalTubist,

Though I would say, if someone wants to double major, I wouldn't say it's impossible. I know several people graduating successfully with a double major (performance and Ed) (i.e. many professors at my school.)

[KevinMadden]

I think the issue of a double-major is "difficult" depending on where you go.

My school reguires 149 credits just to obtain a music Ed degree (5 years). So a double major is even more.

For just a bachelor's no less? thats quite an intensive program! I know of some schools where you could get a master's in 5 years (maybe not music ed. but general education!)