Music theory in Mellow Melody Makers

Congratulations to A for passing the music theory Grade 5 exam with nearly full marks! You've achieved an outstanding Distinction!

Is music theory important in learning an instrument? Absolutely!

Starting from Grade 3, I suggest students to complete one or two pages of music theory homework each week. Before we play the instrument, we discuss the theory questions, and often find connections between these questions and the pieces they are currently playing. This approach also clarifies elements they will encounter in the aural test during a graded practical exam, such as sight-singing and cadence recognition.

While we may sometimes encounter tedious aspects, like note and rest groupings, these rules ensure a clear and understandable notation presentation. Students might initially find them irrelevant, but a well-written music score significantly aids in note reading and beat counting, which is essential for sight-reading new pieces!

I'll do my best to jazz up the boring parts and, most importantly, tie it all into your music playing. So, don't worry about music theory!

Good luck to everyone taking the theory exam soon. All the best, and I'm confident you will succeed!