Jayne Maguire

Jayne Maguire Barrister | Learning music theory

Although many people love the idea of being able to perform their favourite songs on an instrument, few revel in the thought of learning how to read music, and getting to grips with the theoretical side of playing an instrument. Jayne Maguire barristerand frequent concert-goer, has often considered taking up an instrument, but has been put off in the past by the daunting task of mastering music theory.

However, whilst it’s fair to say that it’s not the most fun part of the process, getting to grips with music theory will help you to play the instrument itself better, which in turn will make the experience of performing more enjoyable – both for you, and for those who are listening to you play! The reality is that the theory and the playing are intertwined, meaning that if you neglect this important aspect of the learning process, you won’t be able to make the most out of your chosen instrument.

Even if, like Jayne Maguire, you simply love to listen to music, you can still benefit from learning music theory, as it allows you to perceive a piece of music differently. Once you understand how a piece of music is composed, you’ll start to appreciate the craftsmanship that’s gone into some of your favourite compositions – and this doesn’t just apply to classical music; the same is true of many other genres. You’ll be better able to see why a musician has chosen to use a particular instrument, at a particular time, during the song, and you’ll also find yourself recognising chords and harmonies which you may never have noticed before. In short, learning music theory enhances your listening experience.

Of course, learning music theory is essential for anyone like Jayne Maguire Barristerwho is interested in composing their own songs. Whilst there are a few musicians who work solely with their instruments, rather than using notation, this is a time-consuming way to create a new piece, as the composer is forced to try to memorise notes and progressions, and even invent his or her own notation system to jot down what they have created. This makes it much more likely that that they will lose their original idea for the piece or that their jot