by Fish Paste

Created on: June 01, 2008

How much do you know about music theory? Here is one fact that few people know.

The Western music system was invented by the Greek philosopher Pythagoras and is based on mathematical ratios. All scales and string lengths can be calculated using these ratios. It is actually possible to work out scales without knowing any music theory. That is due to the fact that music is a vibrational frequency and a understanding of wave forms is all that you need to understand the difference between a third and a fifth interval.

This does not mean that music is easy. On the contrary, learning to play any instrument is time consuming and frustratingly difficult. Playing an instrument well involves exact movements. This is referred to as mechanics and muscle memory. Developing the right muscle memory takes a great deal of dedicated practice.

Most people give up, but those who stick with it learn a great deal about themselves as learning to play an instrument involves facing yourself and your weaknesses. Lazy people find that they have to make a positive change in their general lifestyle in order to dedicate themselves to learning an instrument.

This is true for all other values involved in learning music as the self-discipline, determination and confidence that comes with playing an instrument well flows over into the other areas of a person's life.

Music also teaches us how to work with other people in a group towards a common goal. Being in a band is not easy, we must deal with other people's characters and quirks. Conflict and creative differences are the most cited reasons for bands splitting up. Being in a band requires equal sacrifice and directed effort towards achieving an almost impossible goal. Most musicians realise that they do not have a chance in hell of making it within the music industry. Still they try their best and improve themselves everyday in the hope that one day they might make a living doing what they love.

They do get discouraged, but they pick themselves up and they try even harder. If this is not a worthwhile skill in live, then I do not know what is...

Music teaches us history, mathematics, science, patience, determination, self-discipline, methods of overcoming our own weaknesses and how to function within a group to achieve a higher purpose. Additionally, what we learn from music spreads to other areas of our lives, giving us the opportunity to be worthy of being called human beings. The most important lesson I have learnt from music was how to overcome anxiety.

They say that public speaking is a more common fear than dying. Now just imagine playing an instrument in front of strangers. Now that is true anxiety.

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