mmfarva: Learning About Music

intothepit83 04.21.10	yep, pick up and instrument and start playing
mmfarva 04.21.10	I play a decent piano. As of 3 years ago.
Brylawski 04.21.10	Start playing again and set aside some time each day to study music theory
BigHans 04.21.10	I would bet half the people on here that talk about time signatures and shit have actually no idea what they are talking about. I would be one of them, as I only play guitar well enough to not completely embarrass myself.
AnotherBrick 04.21.10	been playing for almost 4 years now and still dont know shit about music theory. every so often i get motivated and try to learn more stuff. wikipedia is pretty good to learn that stuff and as you read it you'll keep getting linked to other pages and you'll go on for hours
SeaAnemone 04.21.10	I find that people who are very knowledgeable about that stuff tend to forget many if the other, more important aspects of music... idk, there's not many reviews worse than ones that concentrate on equipment and time signatures in my opinion (except when it relates directly to the music / is there to support some theme or idea about the sound if that makes sense)
SeaAnemone 04.21.10	then again, knowing more about something is never a bad thing
Boognish3 04.21.10	in addition to what seanemone said, i have to quote this pitchfork review of Tool's Lateralus because its awesome "Danny Carey is the best drummer in rock, dispute that and I know you are a dunce. I made a list of all of his gear (from the June issue of Modern Drummer): Drums, Sonor Designer Series (bubinga wood): 8x14 snare (bronze), 8x8 tom, 10x10 tom, 16x14 tom, 18x16 floor tom, two 18x24 bass drums. Cymbals, Paiste: 14" Sound Edge Dry Crisp hi-hats, 6" signature bell over 8" signature bell, 10" signature splash, 24" 2002 China, 18" signature full crash, #3 cup chime over #1 cup chime, 18" signature power crash, 12" signature Micro-Hat, 22" signature Dry Heavy ride, 22" signature Thin China, 20" signature Power crash. Electronics: Simmons SDX pads, Korg Wave Drum, Roland MC-505, Oberheim TVS. Hardware: Sonor stands, Sonor, Axis or Pro-Mark hi-hat stand, Axis or Pearl bass drum petals with Sonor or Pearl beaters (loose string tension, but with long throw). Heads: Evans Power Center on snare batter (medium high tuning, no muffling), G2s on tom batters with G1s underneath (medium tuning with bottom head higher than batter), EQ3 bass drum batter with EQ3 resonant on front (medium tuning, with EQ pad touching front and back heads). Sticks: Trueline Danny Carey model (wood tip). He has his own sticks, even. In "Schism," the double basses just go nuts at the end. They also do in "Eon Blue Apocalypse." And in "The Grudge." And in "Ticks & Leeches." And nobody uses more toms in metal. You can really hear the 8x8 and 10x10 toms in the opening for "Ticks & Leeches." Over the summer, I counted the number of tom hits in that song, and it's 1,023!! Amazing. That's my favorite song, since it's the one that starts with Maynard screaming, "Suck it!" Then he says, "Little parasite." Later he shouts, "This is what you wanted... I hope you choke on it!"
couldwinarabbit 04.22.10	The Beatles never knew how the read music. Thom Yorke refuses to learn how to read music. (which is quite surprising given that he was at such a prestigious school). Now I'm not saying that people who go to Julliard are stupid (Miles Davis attended) I'm just saying that that it is not vitally important. I can read music and I have quite a good understanding of music composition, mainly due to my interest in the change of Art moments in Europe since the Renaissance. And I can say that it is not necessarily vital to appreciating good music (cause how do you write something like Sonic Youth or Merzbow down). So basically learning how everything works might be a waste of your time (though if you have the time do it) but a good understanding of what separates different forms of music, and what that means will help you.
supertouchox2 04.22.10	if you are serious about this, picking up an instrument really is the best way to start.
Douglas 04.22.10	well if you want to create better theory knowledge head to this website: www.musictheory.net It test's you on, key signatures, intervals, chord progressions etc Fantastic resource, and a great way to broaden your knowledge, AND ITS INTERACTIVE haha
mmfarva 04.22.10	Wow, lots of helpful comments. I really appreciate the help and encouragement. Thanks all!