a while back I did a video about what music theory was and what it means to me.

不久前我做了一支影片關於什麼是樂理和樂理對我的意義

I had a lot of fun making it and led us to some really interesting conversations with y'all,

做影片時有許多快樂時光，讓我們進行了一些非常有趣的對話

so today I wanted to try another slightly more philosophical topic.

所以今天我想試試一個稍微比較哲學思考的話題

I talked about why I study music theory, now I want to look at why I think you should.

我之前說過為什麼我要學樂理，現在我想要去探討為什麼我覺得你也應該學

I get asked about this every once in a while, and it tends to come from two types of people:

每過一陣子我就會被問這個問題，通常是被以下這兩種人問

non-musicians wondering why they should care, and self-taught musicians worried that learning the rules

沒學過音樂的好奇他們為什麼要在乎，而自學音樂的擔心如果學了這些理論

will mess with their personal style.

會破壞他們的個人風格

they're both important, but they're actually pretty different questions,

這兩個問題都很重要，但其實還蠻不一樣的

so for this video I'm just gonna focus on the first one.

所以這支影片我只會專心談第一個問題

if you're never gonna write or arrange a song, if you don't play an instrument or work somewhere in the industry,

如果你們之後不會寫歌或編曲，不演奏樂器，也沒有在這個產業工作

why does music theory even matter?

怎麼可能覺得樂理重要？

what's the point?

意義何在？

well, the thing is, music is everywhere.

嗯，但問題在於，音樂其實無所不在

it surrounds us.

音樂圍繞著我們

it's an inescapable part of our lives.

它是我們生活中無法避免的一部份

over the course of your lifetime, how many times do you think you've gone an entire day

縱觀你的人生，有多少次你覺得你一整天

without hearing music? it's on the radio when you drive to work,

都沒有聽到音樂？當你開車上班，它在收音機上播放著

it's in your headphones, when you're at the gym,

當你在健身房運動，它在你的耳機播放著

it's in the background of parties you go to, movies you watch,

它總是背景音樂，在你參加的派對，你去看的電影

and stores you shop at.

和你去逛的商店

it's worked its way into every nook and cranny of our society, and when we interact with something that often,

我們的社會中處處都是它的蹤影，當我們經常和這樣的東西互動

it's probably something worth knowing about.

就很可能是值得我們去了解的

sometimes, though, people are concerned that if they learn too much about technique

髓然有時候人們會擔心如果他們對技術面了解太多

they'll lose sight of the art and beauty of music, but I can tell you from experiences

他們會看不見音樂的巧妙和美好，但我可以告訴你，以過去的經驗來說

that's just not true.

就不是那麼一回事

to quote Carl Sagan, "It does no harm to the romance of the sunset to know a little bit about it.”

美國天文學家Carl Sagan曾說：去了解一點點關於夕陽的知識，並不會妨礙我們欣賞它浪漫的美

I can tell you a song gave you chills because of a well-placed appoggiatura

我可以告訴你一首歌讓你起雞皮疙瘩，是因為一個安排得宜的倚音

or a deceptive resolution, but just because I have a name for it

或是一個令人迷惑的張力解決，這只因為我知道代表這個現象的名詞

doesn't mean it didn't send a shiver down my spine too.

並不代表它沒有也讓我倒抽一口氣

understanding theory, composition, and arranging lets you listen more actively,

了解理論、作曲、編曲，讓你聆聽時更主動

and it gives you a deeper appreciation, letting you identify not just that something moved you, but how and why.

讓你更深的欣賞，讓你不只找到讓你感動的的東西，還知道它影響你的方式和原因

it makes you a partner in the experiences, instead of just a passenger.

這讓你成為聆賞經驗的一份子，而不只是過客

but not all music is technically advanced.

但也不是所有音樂都含有傑出的技巧

some people worry that learning too much theory will ruin their enjoyment of simple songs,

有些人擔心如果學了太多理論會破壞他們享受簡單的歌曲

but again, in my experience, that doesn't happen.

但我要再次強調，從我的經驗來看，沒發生那種事

if anything, understanding the complex side makes simplicity more impressive.

如果有影響，也是因為了解了複雜的那面，會對簡單的那面更印象深刻

I've found I enjoy listening to pop music a lot more than I did when I started studying.

我發現自己比起剛開始學樂理的時候，更享受聆聽流行音樂

there's a lot of subtlety and nuance that goes into a good pop song:

有很多微妙的細膩的東西出現在好的流行歌曲中

they have to be completely unique while still sounding like everything else.

這些歌曲必須完全獨特但仍要聽起來像其他歌曲

it's a really tough tightrope to walk.

這是如同走鋼索般艱鉅的任務

there's also a difference between appreciation and passion.

欣賞和熱情中間也有不同

learning theory has definitely made me appreciate jazz more, but if I want to unwind,

學習樂理後絕對有讓我更欣賞爵士樂，但如果我想要放鬆一下

I'm still gonna listen to the same Rob Zombie songs I did when I was a teenager,

我還是會去聽羅伯殭屍的歌，如同我還是青少年的時候

'cause that's the music I love.

因為那是我熱愛的音樂

I didn't lose that; I just found new things I liked too.

我沒有失去這個喜好。我只是找到我也喜歡的新東西

and if that's not enough, there's also a utilitarian argument.

然後如果說成這樣還不夠，還有個功利的理由

lots of different jobs intersect with music, from marketing to film to event planning.

很多不同的工作都跟音樂有關，從市場行銷，到電影製作、到活動企劃

you might have friends in a band, or maybe your son produces a youtube series about music theory, mom.

你可能有玩樂團的朋友，或你有個做一系列樂理知識影片到YouTube的兒子，媽啊

there are plenty of reasons you might be interacting with musicians,

有足夠多的理由說明你可能會與音樂人互動

so even if you don't use it yourself, knowing how to talk about music has value.

所以儘管你自己不會用到這些理論，知道如何談論音樂是有價值的

you know, in case you weren't convinced by the whole "surrounding yourself with beauty" thing.

你知道，除非你並沒有被「用美圍繞自己」這件事說服

there is a potential downside, though.

雖然這也有個潛在的壞處

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, it's become hard to turn my active listening habits off.

我沒辦法幫其他人說話，但對我來說，把主動聆賞的習慣關掉變得越來越難

whenever I hear music, I'm deconstructing arrangements, learning melodies,

無論何時，我只要聽到音樂，就會開始解構編曲結構，去學旋律，

and writing counterlines in my head.

然後在腦中寫對位旋律

I can't help it.

我忍不住

it makes listening to music more rewarding, but it also makes it distracting.

這讓聽音樂有更多收穫，但也讓人分心

listening to music takes effort now, and if I don't feel like putting that effort in

現在聽音樂需要付出努力，如果我不覺得自己有付出那樣的努力

I can't really enjoy it.

就沒辦法真正享受音樂

background music tends to bug me, and I try to avoid it when I can.

背景音樂經常會煩到我，當我可以的時候我會試著避免

on the other hand, I know plenty of composers and musicians who are the complete opposite:

另一方面，我知道非常多作曲家和音樂家正好完全相反

they always want to be surrounded by music no matter what they're doing.

他們總是希望被音樂環繞，無論他們在做什麼

and really, unless you're working with music every day like I am, I doubt this'll be a problem for you anyway,

而且真的，除非你是像我一樣整天做音樂工作，我想這對你來說不會是問題

but it's worth recognizing that learning theory will change how you think about music.

但值得了解的是，學習樂理會改變你對音樂的想法

that's kinda the point.

這算是重點

so what do y'all think?

你們怎麼想呢？

I assume most of our regular viewers are musicians of some sort, but if you're not, why do you

我猜我大部分的觀眾某種程度上都是音樂人，但如果你不是的話，為什麼你會

want to learn this stuff? and if you are a musician, why do you think others should?

想要學這種東西？又如果你是音樂人，你覺得為什麼其他人應該學？

I mean, do you think others should? is there a point to lay people learning our craft,

我的意思是，你覺得其他人應該學嗎？讓其他人學我們的技術有意義嗎？

or should we be trying to scare them away so they don't replace us?

或我們應該試著把他們嚇跑，他們就不會搶我們的飯碗？

let me know your thoughts, and feel free to share this video

告訴我你的想法，歡迎分享這支影片

if you know someone who still needs a little convincing.

如果你知道有人還需要說服一下

anyway, thanks for watching! if you want to help make these videos possible,

總之，感謝收看！如果你想要幫助這些影片的產出

please consider supporting 12tone on Patreon.

麻煩考慮在Patreon上支持12tone

you can also join our mailing list for scans of all our episodes,

你也可以加入我們的Email訂閱名單來瀏覽我們所有的影片

like, share, comment, subscribe, and keep on rockin'.

按讚，分享，留言，訂閱，Keep on rockin'！