Songwriting Sunday: Remembering My Theory

A long time ago, I did a survey with the interns in the Midwestern region (where I live) of the US. One of the questions I asked was, "what advice would you give to current music therapy students about what surprises you about being an intern?" Almost everyone responded with a variation of "don't sell your music theory book back." They went on to comment about how much they needed the theory that they had learned and then forgotten after their last final. This is a truth that I come back to over and over.

Music theory is important in the life of a music therapist.

I know, having to relive the days of dictation and sight singing, keyboard harmony and learning typical progressions is not always a happy thought for many of us, but it is important to know those foundational expectations when you are trying to interpret the "can you play that one song? You know, the one that goes  duh, duh duh duh, duh." Well, keep singing as I figure it out...

I use theory all the time. Theory seeps into every piece of music I play on my guitar or keyboard. Theory happens more formally when I am writing music either by myself or as the musician helping one of my clients write their own song. Without the foundational knowledge of theory, it would be difficult to figure out how to accompany folks in unfamiliar songs. So, one of the things that I try to do on a regular basis is to keep up with my theory practice.

This past week, my clients composed melodies to the autumn words and phrases they had brainstormed the week before. We used a variation of the chance composition method to find their melodies. They wrote their melodies down, and now I have a 36 sentence song to complete. The melody is finished, but now my knowledge of theory is going to get a workout while I figure out the rest of the music elements to go along with our sentences.

Time to figure out chord progressions and rhythms and all that.

I was someone who enjoyed theory because it was all a big logic puzzle. I wasn't great at hearing the inside voices (often mixed up alto and tenor lines in dictation), but I got better at it the more I practiced. Once I figured out that music theory had rules, it was easier to predict what would happen. My favorite semester was the last one - we got to break every single rule we had been taught in all the other classes. 12-tone music and atonal theory was the best! My favorite music is Happenings music. It's great! No rules at all!!

I enjoy theory even to this day. 

If you are interested in some theory tips, check out a free resource in my TPT shop. Chord Progressions Every Music Therapist Should Know is a copy of a powerpoint presentation that I have led for music therapists several times. Enjoy!! While you are there, check out the other files I have in my TPT store - there are resources for internship directors, for those who work with school populations, and for those who work with many other populations as well.

Time to remember my music theory as I finish up our Autumn song this week!

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