So should Western students not learn the basics of Western music theory? Should they learn Babylonian notation instead?
This also smacks of cultural relativism. 12 tone equal temperament was a great scientific and musical achievement. Other music systems have no mathematical backing. Some sound objectively worse.
This is a real quote from some African guy on that page that got a heart from Neely:
In Uganda we don't really have a word equivalent to "music". Rather music is defined by how one dances to it. Studying it therefore invariably means studying the dances.
So should western students not learn the basics of Western music theory?
Well... that's the thing.
It's not the basics of Western music theory any more. It hasn't been since the 1930's, if not earlier. Arguably, it never was, unless 'western' means 'German'
Almost no western music is produced in that style these days other than orchestral film scores, and even those largely went out of style 20 years ago. Those articles saying '<insert pop song> is a success because it follows music theory!' are cherry picked bollocks.
It's not a theory useful for rock, metal, industrial, electronic, trance, dubstep, irish folk, english folk, britpop, country, or any other of the litany of western musical styles that of moved in and out of fashion over the past 50 years.
I've got no problem with people learning it - particularly if they want to compose something classical and orchestral, which almost nobody does these days, and even fewer make any money doing, but that doesn't change the fact that for most composers alive today, most of it's archaic and few want to listen to it, meaning that at it the end of the day, knowing it is about as useful as a social studies degree.
So should Western students not learn the basics of Western music theory? Should they learn Babylonian notation instead?
This also smacks of cultural relativism. 12 tone equal temperament was a great scientific and musical achievement. Other music systems have no mathematical backing. Some sound objectively worse.
This is a real quote from some African guy on that page that got a heart from Neely:
Doesn't that just say it all?
Sound objectively worse... to us.
Not to everyone.
Each culture needs its own traditions. But, this requires they separate.
Well... that's the thing.
It's not the basics of Western music theory any more. It hasn't been since the 1930's, if not earlier. Arguably, it never was, unless 'western' means 'German'
Almost no western music is produced in that style these days other than orchestral film scores, and even those largely went out of style 20 years ago. Those articles saying '<insert pop song> is a success because it follows music theory!' are cherry picked bollocks.
It's not a theory useful for rock, metal, industrial, electronic, trance, dubstep, irish folk, english folk, britpop, country, or any other of the litany of western musical styles that of moved in and out of fashion over the past 50 years.
I've got no problem with people learning it - particularly if they want to compose something classical and orchestral, which almost nobody does these days, and even fewer make any money doing, but that doesn't change the fact that for most composers alive today, most of it's archaic and few want to listen to it, meaning that at it the end of the day, knowing it is about as useful as a social studies degree.