Lies My Music Teacher Told Me: Music Theory For Grownups

by Gerald Eskelin

A number of musical misconceptions are explored and exploded in this humorous and lucid discussion of the relation between the human perception of music and traditional systems of music education. Drawing on his extensive background in the music world, the author marshals an informal yet rigorous logic to guide the reader through the practical experiences and careful thinking that led him to his conclusions. Updated and refined in the light of reader feedback and more recent thinking, nagging questions such as Why does formal musical training seem not to pertain to musical success? and Why is there such a dramatic disparity between what one is told about music and how one actually experiences it? are re-addressed. Seekers of musical truth stand to profit from this light-hearted assault on the more nebulous assumptions of the musical community.

Genres: Music, Education, Nonfiction, History

168 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1996

Reviews

[Joomi Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this would be a good book for me to look at.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book is about harmony and how equal temperance, while great for pianos, is a bunch of baloney when it comes to tuning chords for choirs or any other continuous-pitch orchestra.

This I agree with entirely.

His style, however, is wayyyy too conversational, and completely failed to lighten the heavy theory at all (what I can only assume was his purpose in being so casual).

I've heard that the second half of the book, regarding rhythm, is a bunch of BS. I wouldn't know, since I put it down never to pick it back up again after I got tired of listening to him try to be chummy.


There are probably better books out there for debunking equal temperance.

[Anthony Bello · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eskelin attempts to portray himself as a teacher and vocalist combating the half-truths of equal temperament, but comes off sounding merely cantankerous.
Intermediary comprehension of equal temperament and of the limitations of time signatures are the best conceivable consequence of reading this book. For the personal outrage and bitterness, I would suggest watching "The Werckmeister Harmonies" instead. Here is a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wisTI-...

[joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, amusing book about teaching and learning music. It mostly focuses on major/minor as a system and the problems inherent in well-tempered keyboards. There is a major section on rhythm and meter signatures, too.