Many Musicians Didn’t Learn Music In School…I’m Shocked!

As I started to participate in guitar Facebook groups, the amount of individuals who were against music theory were more apparent than ever. I couldn’t understand why so many didn’t care to understand music on a deeper level.

For me, music was part of the curriculum between Kindergarten and Grade 8, and that’s where I got my musical and theoretical foundation from. Thus, I had to wonder, if others grew up the same way, there’s no way they would be so against it…..so maybe they didn’t?

I decided to create a poll. I had to get to the bottom of this.

I asked the Guitar and Music Theory Facebook group “did you learn music in school” and I gave them 4 options:

• I learned music and theory in school
• I learned an instrument. That’s all
• I learned as a kid but forgot it
• I did not learn music in school

I shared my background as well, explaining that between Grade 1 and 5, we would learn recorder and how to read a basic staff (treble clef, time signatures, names of notes, types of bars etc). In middle school (Grade 6-8), we got to pick up a band instrument (only wind and brass instruments), and we went a little more into theory. Grade 9, students got to choose which art they want as their elective (art, music or drama), and after that, arts were optional. I encouraged others to share their experiences.

Although I added the second option, I was really curious how a teacher could teach an instrument and skip the theory part. I also didn’t have more poll options, or I would have included “music class was a choir” and I know theory isn’t usually included when singing.

Either way, I posted the poll and eagerly awaited results…

Poll Results

Right off the bat, the “I didn’t learn music in school” option was taking the lead with about 40%, while the 1st and 2nd options were tied for about 25% each. Half a day later, The 1st option “I learned music and theory in school” was catching but, but a few days later, it was about the same.

After 2 days and 310 votes, these were the results:

I am flabbergasted. Now, I’ve always considered myself blessed despite my poor upbringing, but I felt even more privileged at this point.

I grew up in a very poor area of Toronto, Jane & Finch. The area is a low income area as it was full of immigrants. It was also super multicultural for that reason. It had a lot of gang and gun violence when I was in school so even til this day, it has a bad reputation and people avoid it.

In 2008, a boy was shot inside of my future high school, C.W. Jefferys. I considered not going there, but it was walking distance and I got into their Esteem program.

However, despite this, music and the arts wasn’t off limits. Recorders were cheap and accessible, and my middle and high school had a dedicated music room and teacher, with instruments everyone can rent out for free. The most we would have to pay for was our reeds, and maybe our music books if we lost them.

Thus, I assumed music was accessible and a part of the curriculum everywhere else…why wouldn’t it be? Music is great for the developing mind and inspires creativity and teamwork. So I was really curious how others went to school.

Comments From Participants

Here are some comments people have left on my poll:

I learned how to physically play instruments in elementary school through high school, I learned what I know about theory in college.

Patrick J.

Grades 1-3 had to take choir class, recorder and piano. Piano was my favorite but didn’t play any instrument again until I was 15 then started guitar, self taught from tabs lol

Tory Z.

My school systems approach was actually very similar to yours. I grew up in Brewster, NY in the US (essentially a suburb of New York City). In first grade they gave everyone a recorder with some simple things to learn as homework. The rule was, if you forgot to bring your recorder in … ever … you were not allowed to sign up for an instrument (the thought being you lacked the necessary discipline). I did forget it once, so at that moment I was no longer eligible to play in grammar school, which meant I couldn’t sign up in middle school or high school. I love playing music and writing songs on guitar, fake my way through piano, currently learning violin and deciding which wind instrument I want to learn at 55. Don’t know any theory … which is why I love that I came across this group!

Ryan C.

I had one year of music in eighth grade. They taught is to read basic sheet music then had us sing together. I was the only person of about 20 who was told not to sing, but to mouth the words. I have not sung since. If I had the power, I would go back and fire the teacher.

Michael T. G.

Instruments as far back as 4th grade; then played until 8th. Tried to learn guitar from stepdad when I was in High School but he was kind of impatient with me. Picked up multiple instruments again after 40 years old. I learned a little Music Theory each time; but got serious about it in the last 5 – 10 years. Even bought college level Music Theory books throughout the years. Some recommended to me by my brother who has a Ph.D in Music Composition.

Mark K.

My grade schools had music classes, but they were… not immersive. I learned music for real on my own.

Daniel B.

I played in the string ensemble in grade school in the USA. We learned to read, even to sight read.
In grade school in Germany, I don’t remember there being musical ensembles or classes. I studied piano and violin separately in a conservatory. We did lots of reading, but not much theory.
In high school music was optional. I bought a Marshall and played at home.
I didn’t learn solfege until college (classical piano performance degree course). There we also had mandatory theory classes, but by that point I already knew most of it.

Ben P.

I had one of those music teachers in grade school that forced us to hear The Carpenters on a daily basis. Explains how I ended up with Metal in my veins!

Ken P.

I had music in school up untill 7th grade after that it was what we call an elective like art and pottery wood shop metal shop and auto shop we where taught a simple instrument and how the staff worked and what the key of C was note values and rest values what a measure was and what a time signature was. The teacher would play piano.

Jay P. J.

It’s a shame that music programs (and trade prep classes) in public schools have dwindled exponentially.
I remember a kind of general music class in grade school: recorders, solfège, nursery rhyme singalongs, etc but not theory so much.
In middle school, band, choir and orchestra were offered but it was kind of a financial barrier anything other than choir if your parent/s could not afford your instrument and books. High school was much the same.
All the theory I’ve learned has been through trial and error, resources like this group and other musicians aside from basic rhythm and notation learned in middle school

Caleb L.

At seven years old, we were made to stand beside piano and sing do re me…Those who could (me) got put in the choir…Taught to read music so could sing the songs…Pretty good I reckon…

Glenn W.

I tried viola but getting up an hour early for school became a problem for me.

Jack P.

Public school in the US from 1972 until 1984. Had a music singing class through grade 5. This consisted of nothing more than singing songs while the teacher played a guitar or autoharp for accompaniment.

At grade 6 we were allowed to chose between band class and chorus class. Anybody choosing band was assigned an instrument that your parents had to pay for. I was saddled with playing trumpet. You learned to read music at a basic level through a standard band method book, but no theory or advanced reading was ever involved.

For Grades 9 through 12, band and chorus were offered as elective classes along with wood shop, metal shop, home economics, typing study hall, geometry, etc. You had to have already spent grades 6 through 8 playing an instrument to be allowed to take the band class, though.

Forrest L.

Sounds similar to what I remember… But there were no tests and nobody took it seriously… It was the Van Halen generation. Anything learned there was soon forgotten for, trapper keepers, Levi’s, high top sneakers, chicks, ect.

Marco G.

In the working class poorer area of town in Fremont CA where I grew up from 3rd grade on up there were no music classes. I tested high on an IQ and they invited me into what they called the Mentally Gifted Minor program. This involved me riding my bike several miles to another richer area of town and attending a different school for 5th and 6th grade. I was in the program up until 10th grade when we moved.

At the new school I had all the stuff you mentioned. I got private drum lessons there and they also had a very good musical theater program for which I excelled landing the lead role in Pinnocio.

Fortunately, I also had a loving mother who bought me guitars and paid for private lessons for me.

Theory I mostly learned from books and trial and error in learning to play. And listening to records and other musicians and how they were applying the “theory”. I call it coding because I see it more like someone would view computer programming code.

James H.

Growing up in the Netherlands we did get music in high school. I vaguely remember learning about music history and basic theory (notes, scales, key signatures, time signatures). But I distinctly remember not understanding the connection to the music I listened to. It seemed stuffy…
So after cramming for a test I promptly forgot everything  Only picked up theory after playing guitar for a while

Stefan J.

At my school in South Africa, there was no music option. I remember hating the idea of sight reading and theory. Then when I was 20, I decided I wanted to do this professionally and did a BMus with a bridging course first. Now I know theory and can read. I am 29. It was the best thing I could have ever done for my music career. BUT!!! I WANTED to do the course and learn. If I was forced by my parents or something then I might not have been keen

Nick P.

My school had us playing keyboards but really dumbed down versions of songs.
About the most theory we were taught was what the note lengths were (as long as they weren’t dotted) and allegedly what a time signature was but it was explained in a complete non-sensical way (“4/4 means 4 beats in the crotchet bar” what the hell is that?? It means literally nothing to a 10 year old that has no music knowledge)

Paul M.

We had a school choir,but we learned our parts ‘parrot fashion’, and weren’t taught any theory. We had a school pipe band, which was great for the few of us who could take part. I played the bugle,which was the nearest I got to learning an instrument.

Jimmy H.

In Mexico, when I was a kid, we learned to “play” the recorder (aka “sweet flute”) we weren’t taught jack of music theory, we barely new the notes and the pentagram. I believe it was because a deal between Yamaha and the secretary of education, every school demanded a Yamaha recorder for elementary students.

Fernando M.

My last music lesson in school was SOLFEGIO note reading.

Arlo C.

I took band in middle school. It was mandatory to learn the recorder for six weeks then select the instrument you would play for the duration. I chose drums. I learned to read music for timing but quickly forgot everything as it wasn’t needed for percussion.

Wil S.

It was a rudimentary introduction to music and theory including a recorder, xylophone and piano, but also the history and impact that music played on everyday society through its various genres. Later on in jr high and high school you had an option to join “Band “ but that was a different thing altogether….

Terry W.

My school experience (London, UK) of music, aged 15(?) was to be given a sheet of music notation (which I’d never seen before) and told to sing it. My next lesson was being given sheet music for an ensemble, and had to “follow it” as the music was played to us. In other words, it was utterly useless.

Jerry K.

I didn’t take music or join band in HS. I didn’t learn theory until I went to college and majored in music composition.

Marlon C.

When I was in elementary school we each received a plastic recorder-like instrument called “Tonette”, and we were taught basic reading and notes, no chords. My step dad was a member of SPEBSQSA, so if we were required to sing, I started singing in harmony. The teacher would stop the class to find out who was doing that. Chorus was optional but I usually joined.

Michael B. W.

I learned music in elementary school and not music theory. I learned percussion in the band but not how to read. I played piano in church was self taught the rest! I love this post! 

Levere E. T.

I took a music theory class but didn’t learn anything. I was second chair in high school band for my instrument, but still to this day cannot read music. I do have the ability to play basic things on any instrument that I can find, so that’s my new Endeavor try and play instruments that I have never encountered.

Brian H.

I went to a grammar school in the UK. There were good opportunities to learn music as an extra curricular activity, but after the age of 13 it wasn’t a scheduled lesson. My (adoptive) parents weren’t musical so I wasn’t encouraged. Picked up the guitar at 18 when I left home for work experience then Uni. Found my biological parents in my 30’s and have a semi Pro standard father and Pro ½ brother. Got back into playing in my 40’s and have been obsessed since.

Andy M.

Not thrilled with school band, I wound up with 5 years of accordion lessons, then 3 years of Hammond organ. Wanted to play the high school theater organ but the dumb admin said no, missing an opportunity to get a handle on me, and pissing me off even more than they already had.

David P.

Being deaf, I never bothered with music in middle or high school. It was afterwards I picked up the guitar. Now I’m taking weekly lessons with a well known local tutor.

Mopar T.

I essentially created my own music theories and then found out what the actual terms were in school

Elliot S.

Conclusion

I thank everyone who took part of my survey. It’s been very insightful!

And for everyone else out there, I hope it’s a lesson to not always judge or assume. Although I knew not everyone had the same upbringing as me (especially when it comes to growing up around different cultures, races, and religions), I still didn’t get why some musicians were so against theory.

I thought it was willful ignorance, or perhaps they tried but got frustrated and started to hate it, but there are people who can play different instruments who have never learned about theory. There are trumpet players, violinists, and guitarists who may learn the basics off a chart then just learned by ear, and that’s okay!

Be sure to check out my article on “Music Theory is like Cooking Science”. I go into detail about how anyone can do well, anyone could win or lose, but knowing a bit more about how ingredients work and work together can certainly help one feel confident when exploring the unknown.

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to subscribe to this blog and check out my other articles that may be of interest to you 🙂