Theory of music

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Definition

Theory of music is the practical science which studies the structural functioning of music. It is mostly studied by musicians.

It is a science, because it researches, classifies and evaluates musical phenomena, structures and elements, creating models for explanation and prediction.

It is also a practical science, since many evaluations can only be done by experiments in human hearing or performing.

To help students acquire basic knowledge of music theory, this website offers an outline of basic music theory.

Contents


World music theory

Theory of music is not an exclusively Western science, many other traditions of world music have developed and maintained their own theories.

For the purpose of this website, these will be collected as World music theory.

History

The written history of theory of music is unique in many continents, and goes back millennia. The unwritten history is difficult to trace, because it is based on the many oral traditions that abound in music, also in literate parts of the world.

Partial fields of study

Theory of music can be divided into many partial fields of study, including:

Related fields of study

Theory of music can be part of related fields of study, such as:

Alternative theoretical models

Some composers developed their own systems of theoretical thought; especially when these were more like procedures for creating music (instead of for general analysis), these were often not incorporated into the generally taught theory of music. Some alternative theoretical models have entered main stream music education.

Below are some alternative theoretical models and systems:

See also

External link

Recent new pages on theory of music

Outline of basic music theory: questions 17:41, 12 January 2012 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 15:32, 2 February 2012 by Oscar van Dillen
Outline of basic music theory 02:37, 31 August 2011 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 02:50, 20 May 2012 by Oscar van Dillen
Circle of fifths 20:39, 5 October 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:01, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Transposition 02:12, 14 September 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:20, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Wide interval 17:59, 9 September 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:22, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Basic interval 17:57, 9 September 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:04, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Mode 03:55, 22 April 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 03:54, 18 March 2012 by Oscar van Dillen
Seventh chord 02:46, 22 April 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:17, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Melodic minor modes 09:42, 20 April 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 12:43, 16 March 2012 by Oscar van Dillen
Harmonic minor modes 09:29, 20 April 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 12:43, 16 March 2012 by Oscar van Dillen
Category:Sheet music 15:29, 31 January 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 15:31, 31 January 2010 by Oscar van Dillen
Degree 02:23, 29 January 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:07, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Triad 17:30, 26 January 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:20, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Basic tone 03:36, 16 January 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:05, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Church modes 15:40, 7 January 2010 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 02:59, 17 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Silence 03:34, 16 December 2009 by Hulsman, last edit 18:48, 12 January 2012 by Oscar van Dillen
Harmonic analysis 03:13, 16 December 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:10, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Chord 02:51, 16 December 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:06, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Fundamental 02:50, 16 December 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:09, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Harmonic series 02:46, 16 December 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 03:03, 13 April 2012 by Oscar van Dillen
Overtone 02:45, 16 December 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:13, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Harmonic 02:44, 16 December 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:09, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Vibration 03:08, 14 December 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:21, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Sound 02:24, 14 December 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:18, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Notation 01:42, 14 December 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 02:51, 28 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Range 03:34, 25 November 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:18, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Timbre 03:30, 25 November 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:19, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Category:Exercises 00:55, 11 October 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 03:46, 12 January 2010 by Oscar van Dillen
Theory of music 02:35, 12 February 2009 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 19:07, 19 May 2012 by Oscar van Dillen
Score-order 11:45, 25 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 02:48, 8 January 2012 by Oscar van Dillen
Dot 16:34, 23 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:08, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Beat 03:45, 23 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:05, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Value-flag 03:40, 23 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:19, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Beam 03:34, 23 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:05, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Notestem 03:31, 23 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:13, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Barline 03:27, 23 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:04, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Bar 03:19, 23 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 00:05, 13 January 2012 by Oscar van Dillen
Time signature 03:17, 23 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:20, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Category:Instrumentation 16:59, 22 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 03:46, 12 January 2010 by Oscar van Dillen
Rest 16:14, 22 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 23:24, 12 January 2012 by Oscar van Dillen
Quarter tone 19:46, 21 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:15, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Double flat 19:43, 21 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:08, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Natural 19:09, 21 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:12, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Double sharp 19:00, 21 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:08, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Flat 19:00, 21 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:08, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Sharp 18:59, 21 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:17, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Semitone 15:19, 21 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:16, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Alteration 15:12, 21 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:02, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Scale 15:02, 21 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 20:15, 16 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen
Diatonic system 15:00, 21 September 2008 by Oscar van Dillen, last edit 02:53, 17 December 2011 by Oscar van Dillen

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Retrieved from "http://www.OscarvanDillen.com/Theory_of_music"
Facts about Theory of musicRDF feed
Belongs to typeScience  +
IncludesMusic  +, Notation  +, Harmony  +, Melody  +, Rhythm  +, Counterpoint  +, Instrumentation  +, Form  +, and Style  +
NeedsHearing  +
Related toMusicology  +, and Ethnomusicology  +
Similar toSchenkerian analysis  +, Dodecaphony  +, Serialism  +, Set theory  +, Tone clock  +, and Lydian chromatic concept of tonal organization  +
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