Music theory is comprehension of the written and spoken “language” of music.
Like any language, it varies from place to place and from situation to situation, and
utilizes unique terminology and rules.
Music theory is also an understanding of the mathematics of music. Music is
auditory math, and, like math, it has formulas to follow and symbols that should be
understood before the language can be used for practical communication.
There is also an historical aspect to music theory. Like both mathematics and
language, it is constantly evolving, and sometimes the best part is discovering what is
happening now, based on what happened way back in days of old (in Highlands cold,
when pipes were carved from rosewood…).
Why should pipers learn music theory?
Have you ever been asked what key the bagpipe is in, or what key a tune is in?
Have you ever been handed a piece of music and asked if it would fit on the
pipes? Has a “mainstream” musician ever asked you a musical question and you
only recognized half the words? Don’t worry – you’re not alone!
Because pipe music is so limited in terms of scale and key, the Highland bagpipe is
frequently portrayed as not a “real” instrument, and pipers less than “real” musicians.
Many pipers do not play other instruments, and have not had the opportunity to gain the
theory skills available to other musicians. Often pipers are led to believe that those skills
are not necessary because they are “only” pipers.
However, the understanding of musical concepts and vocabulary gives a piper the skills
to learn from, and share their knowledge with, mainstream and folk musicians alike. After
all, who other than a piper would know that a crunluath isn’t some kind of weird tropical
fungus?
Curious now, about what to do next?
You have come to the right place, because there is a solution to the lack of theory
training in the piping community. It is a music theory workbook called "Is It Supposed to
Sound Like That?"
To find out more, check out the "Is it Supposed To Sound Like That?" page!
be this excited
when learning
music theory!
