Dear Mr. Chappell:

I enjoy playing music, but I’m afraid that gaining too much technical ability or theoretical knowledge could get in the way of my spontaneity. Should I be worried?

— Worrier

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Dear Worrier:

It may not be necessary to gain technical ability or theoretical knowledge if you want to create your entire musical world just using the gifts and abilities that you already have. Many tremendously successful musicians in the field of pop music, for example, have done exactly this. It is possible to operate within a restricted set of parameters in order to generate expressive and durable artistic statements.

But if you are intent on gaining ability and knowledge, your question takes on validity.

Regarding technical ability: The only technique that can get in your way is the one that you haven’t mastered. If you have to think about doing the technique, then it will distract you. Your goal should be total mastery so that you can spontaneously do anything that you want. There is no downside to that.

Regarding knowledge of music theory: There are two kinds of knowledge: experience and understanding. Experience is concrete, physical, and in the present time. Understanding is abstract, mental, and can be about the past or future.

It is possible to experience something without understanding it, and it is possible to understand something without experiencing it. If you both experience what you understand and understand what you experience, then you have complete knowledge.

The two words in the phrase "music theory" represent the two kinds of knowledge. Music is what you experience, and theory is the method of understanding it.

The theoretical knowledge of music is intellectual and analytical. It consists of naming things and identifying their relationships. Naming things enables you to communicate with other people about music. Identifying relationships enables you to predict results.

The answer to this part of your question depends on whether you are relating to music as a listener, improviser, composer, or performer.

As a listener, if you want to indulge yourself (as I sometimes do) by being wonder-struck at the mystery of a piece of music, you might be better off not knowing what its theoretical analysis consists of. It is not necessary to understand music at the level of your intellect. Music is the sound of feelings. Feelings are a form of understanding. Therefore, you can understand a piece of music at the level of your feelings.

As an improviser or as a composer, being able to predict results will increase your success. You will definitely be better off knowing all you can about music theory.

As a performer of someone else’s music, knowing music theory will help you to understand a composition from the viewpoint of its creator. That would be the greatest understanding.

— JC