Re: [Harp-L] Are there pro harp players who do not know theory?

Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx> · Fri, 20 May 2011 08:04:31 -0700

On May 20, 2011, at 5:32 AM, Richard Hunter wrote:
sheltraw@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

<Some of us operate from the perspective that our headlights are our  
ears.

<

<I like to use what little theory actually exists in jazz to shine a  
light

<under the hood while the car is in the garage.

I also don't understand that sentence, as well as not understanding  
someone's earlier comment that suggests that music theory is all about  
prediction. Music theory simply explains how music works. It can of  
course be used to predict what will or will not work in a given  
situation, but that's a side effect. As for there being little  
existing jazz theory, certainly there's as much jazz theory as there  
is any kind of western music theory -- in fact I think it all boils  
down to the same theory, no? The differences are stylistic.

First, I don't really understand what the 2nd sentence means.
Second, your ears are connected to your brain, and your brain  
dictates what you play, no matter how good your ears are.

Agreed, but in my opinion, there's a huge difference between your  
conscious and unconscious mind. My understanding of music theory is  
intermediate and I rarely give it any thought when I'm playing --  
that's because I don't do very well when I try to think and play at  
the same time -- by the time I figure it out, the moment has passed. I  
believe that the same part of my brain that allows me to do things  
like touch type or ride a bicycle "automatically" allows me to compose  
or improvise without giving it much (if any) conscious thought.
When I'm practicing, music theory helps me to understand what will  
work when my unconscious mind doesn't know what to do on its own.  
Eventually I internalize the lesson and I don't have to think about it  
anymore.
But that's just me. I have a high regard for those who always know  
exactly what they're about to do and why they're going to do it before  
they do it, especially in the context of jazz improvisation and  
especially if they can, on top of all that, play tastefully and  
soulfully. I think this does give them a huge advantage and I think  
they must have bigger brains than I ;-).
- Slim.