Is all of this necessary?

[flyinfingers]

My teacher is trying to explain all of this dominant, subdominant, etc. seven chord stuff and it's taking up A LOT of my lesson time and I'm really not interested in learning this stuff.  Is that bad?   
I'm really confused by it all and I find my mind wandering while she's trying to explain it. 
Does everyone know this stuff?   
Thanks! 

[p2u_]

My teacher is trying to explain all of this dominant, subdominant, etc. seven chord stuff and it's taking up A LOT of my lesson time and I'm really not interested in learning this stuff.  Is that bad?    

"Bad" is the wrong word. It's just a pity because theory is actually rather interesting, lots of fun, and very, very useful if you change your attitude towards it. The problem is usually that theory is taught in a way that has nothing to do with what we do on the instrument.

Paul

[j_menz]

Does everyone know this stuff?   

Such of "this stuff" I ever knew has since gone to a happier home.

[aindavou]

You can think in all this stuff how a way to grow up your technical on piano. I see how a language with read and written, it help you to understand the music. like when you need to grow dinamic or somethin.

and it's can come be a fun, i get a lot o funny with this. :p

[jlh]

The problem is that  unless you know how to analyze the music you're playing: chords, harmony, form, etc., you will always be dependent on someone to tell you about it instead of being independent and figuring out what's going on.  Buckle down and learn it. 

Best,
Josh

[davidjosepha]

Also, if you can learn the chord structure, memorization becomes much easier. Or at least that's what I've been told. I don't understand any of it

[brianvds]

I have never been able to make head or tails of theory either. I think it can be useful, but only if you can hear what you are studying in your head. Otherwise it just becomes mindless rules to be mastered for exam purposes. It seems to me that developing students' inner ear would be a far more useful thing than teaching them a list of "thou shalt nots" from three centuries ago.

[keyofc]

flyin fingers:
Although I do like and teach theory - I believe it's not as necessary to some as to others.
Some people know the stuff intuitively without the labels.

How are you at transposing?

[Bob]

Yes, necessary, but not as complicated as it all can seem.  There are only three or four different chord types.

[quantum]

The problem is usually that theory is taught in a way that has nothing to do with what we do on the instrument.

Quite so! 


Theory is very much a part of playing music.  However, we must remember that theory is based on music, and not vice versa.  Theory is a method of describing commonalities and tendencies of music, and in most cases was created after music itself. 

You probably have observed these tonic, dominant, subdominant, characters in the music you play, you may even have your own terminology to describe these things.  Learning theory would enable you to speak a common language with other musicians, so you can communicate about these elements in the music. 

Ask your teacher to integrate theory with playing the piano and listening to recordings. 

[ted]

Descriptive theory is a system of guidelines and properties common to music which already exists. Constructive theory is a similar system which aims to actually help create music. Thus while the former claims to be universal, the latter can be as personal and original as your actual creations, with any degree of overlap.

Whatever constitutes a particular theory, if it is not immediately relevant to some meaningful and immediate musical process for you, then yes, I can understand its irrelevance.

Perhaps improvisation, style doesn't matter, might be an excellent way for you to have some fun with both types of theory in a dynamic and pertinent fashion ?

I'm just trying to make helpful suggestions to keep your interest up; I know very little about common practice descriptive theory and my constructive theories are peculiar to me.  

[chopin2015]

 I do like theory. I am not fantastic with it, but I prefer theory lessons separate from my official piano lessons, unless it has absolute relevance to the piece but this is why you take theory so that you do not spend as much time discussing it during your piano time. Maybe if you studied it up on your own time instead? It does help in some places if it is an ordinary chord, to just know what it is so that you can easily reach for it knowing what keys to hit to make the appropriate chord sound. Sometimes it helps with sight reading, as well! Also, understanding of rhythm is essential. I cannot stress that enough and I swear there is no better skill than good solid understanding or rhythm, especially exotic stuff. Good luck!!