Law and Chaos

One of the good effects of learning harmony is that students learn to think about relationship of each notes in detail. And one of the bad effects of learning harmony is that students tend to think music is the sum of independent events or chords.


The students, who learned harmony but doesn’t have enough practical experience, tend to try to make everything perfect. They might be thinking the sum of perfect parts would be perfect whole. The result of such sum is often dull music.


I consider the balance is the most important aspect in music: the balance between unity and variety; something familiar and something different; something we know and something we don’t; and etc. In other words, the balance between law and chaos. It seems that dynamic reaction between the law and chaos in time makes arts living.


What we call music theory usually teaches only “law” side of the music. I found that it is very important to encourage students to retain and/or practice impulsive, spontaneous, and childlike compositional approach while they learn theory.


All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. This seems to be applicable to arts also.