[sdiy] sdiy] The ideal quantizer, was: Music

[David G. Dixon]

> I was attempting to draw a parallel to David's response;
> << > > > Yeah: learn the theory!
> OK, this response actually pisses me off, too!  >>
> Apparently my communications skills are degrading, probably talking to the
> cats too much...

I knew what you were saying, Jerry, and I feel the same way.  That's why I
tried to catch myself from falling into the same trap.

Unfortunately, when it comes to musical instruction, the sad fact is that a
lot of musicians simply don't know how to communicate what they can do to
other people, other than showing by example, and students have to be at a
certain level before they can benefit from those examples.

Ultimately, it all boils down to experimentation.  It's like anything else:
you learn it by doing it.  As the great jazz piano teacher Mark Levine*
says, music theory isn't how the music works, but how we to try to explain
how the music works.  The music works because our ears tell us it works.

*If you're truly interested in learning useful scale and chord theory, "The
Jazz Theory Book" by Mark Levine is easily the best $42 you'll ever spend:

http://www.shermusic.com/new/1883217040.shtml

Every single principle is illustrated with several examples transcribed
directly from jazz recordings in this amazing tome.  You do need to be able
to read music, though, to really take advantage of it.