With a new full-time music teacher, Souderton is now offering Music Theory as a class again, available to all students interested in learning or honing their musical skills.
The class is offered as Music Theory I and II, each teaching the key concepts of the theory found in music.
According to orchestra director Julia Flynn, music theory is a concept that explains the “guidelines of how music works.”
Through rhythm, harmony and form, “music theory allows people to analyze and understand music better, and ultimately be able to compose their own music,” Flynn said.
For band director Adam Tucker, Music Theory teaches important skills that are valuable throughout life.
“Anything you learn in music theory will always benefit you in anything musically related that you do in the future,” Tucker said.
According to Tucker, if a student wants to learn an instrument, music theory is “the best thing to do” when learning it.
According to senior Curtis Edwards, music theory is important to who we are.
“Music is a part of so many of our daily lives, so having a base knowledge of music theory helps us know more about what we’re consuming every day,” Edwards said.
Edwards said he has been playing trumpet since elementary school, and music theory allows him to solidify and reinforce his music skills.
According to junior Liam Neubert, there are many students who listen to music every day.
“I listen to music constantly,” Neubert said. “Somewhere throughout the last year, it has struck me that music could be something I could do. I could start playing music. ”
Neubert said music theory has helped him start to play music as he has been learning the guitar for the past year. “There were a ton of vocabulary words that my guitar teacher used that I had no idea what they meant, and now those words are showing up in class,” Neubert said.
According to Tucker, even without any experience in music, the class is available to all students at any skill level. Students can “come in cold,” with no previous experience in music.
“As long as you listen and consume music at some capacity, you will be able to understand music theory and be able to take the class,” Tucker said.
Many students believe that they will continue with the concept of music theory, long after the class is finished.
“I think continuous exposure to music and theory will allow me to retain everything that I am learning,” junior Liam Neubert said. “I want to continue to play guitar for as long as I can, so I know music theory will always be valuable to me.”
According to Edwards, music theory is valuable to anyone who “enjoys listening and/or creating music.”
Many students feel the same way, believing that the class is helpful to people at all skill levels. “Even the kids who have been playing instruments their whole lives don’t know some of the content we’re learning,” said Neubert. “There are little things that come with music theory that can help anyone.”