<p>I'm considering a minor in music when I go to a university. I'm currently a high school/community college student. I'm not and have never been in band or choir. But I play the piano, and enjoy it. Obviously I know the basics like the notes and how to play. But I'm not really sure on the names of the different scales or what would make up something like a Dm7 chord. I always figured that when I got to college, I would learn this stuff in class. But recently, I just got the fear that I would go in way over my head, and be expected to do things I can't do like know the notes of music by listening to it. So, what is it like, and will it be really hard? Will I have to play other instruments?
I'm not planning to major in music or anything, I'm probably gonna major in something like health science/computers/psych/langauges (I still don't know! >.<), but I've always had an interest in playing piano, and wanted to minor in something like music, because I really want to know music theory and be able to play improv or possibly write my own pieces.
Any help would be appreciated!</p>
<p>Music theory requirements can vary a lot from school to school. It is notoriously hard at some schools and not so bad at others. The first semester or two is fairly basic stuff that partly requires some memorization of material and partly requires a good ear. Playing piano is a good place to start. It gets more complicated if you go on for three, four or more semesters but by then you have a good idea of what it is like. I do not think you will be asked to play any other instruments, but you will be asked to sing at times.</p>
<p>One thing that some people have trouble with (myself included) is musical dictation, where they tell you the note that they are starting on, play a melody a few times and ask you to write it out as you listen. They start pretty simply with easy one-part melodies, but you may soon find yourself taking down harmonies in two, three and four parts. Some people find this to be not as hard as it may sound while others have real problems with it.</p>
<p>Many high schools and community colleges have music theory classes. You might want to take one of these to see how it goes before you are paying much higher fees for the class and get some practice in that could help you later. Music schools will almost certainly not recognize AP credit or transfer credit for the class, but many of them will allow you to take a test to see if you can place out of the first semester.</p>
<p>While it is a great idea for a music minor to take theory classes, it may not be required in every case. At your current level of understanding, I would highly recommend at least a semester or two of theory if you want to compose. In any event, you should still be able to find someone to give you piano lessons, although if you are not a major you may have to pay extra for them.</p>
<p>I’ve taken a number of music theory classes, both in school (regular and AP Music Theory) and over the summer (FSU, USF, and home study). It’s really not that complicated. The foundations of music theory are very simple and a lot of it starts out by explaining your instrumental application.</p>
<p>You will have to practice sight singing and melodic dictation, but they develop with your ear the more you practice both the theory and your instrument. Besides singing, you will not need to learn another instrument; my Music Theory II lab is applying my knowledge of scales, dictation, etc. to piano.</p>
<p>If you study and practice piano, it should come pretty easily to you.</p>
<p>Asking how hard music theory is is like asking how hard mathematics is. It is a subject in itself, and your difficulty in learning will be entirely dependent on your music theory teacher, the textbook you use, prior knowledge, accidental insights, etc. </p>
<p>Try it! You’ve got nothing to lose. At its best, music theory can help one appreciate music in a whole new light. But of course, the pedantic drone of academia can make music theory near impossible to enjoy or understand. But it’s more often the former. </p>
<p>But be sure to take a couple introductory classes before declaring your minor.</p>
<p>So going in with only a background in piano and almost no music theory experience will be ok? I’ll try it then. Doesn’t sound as scary as I imagined.</p>
<p>I have known voice majors who have gone in with no keyboard background at all and about the same level of theory as you. They managed.</p>
<p>Theory is like licorice - you either love it or you hate it.</p>