Mario Paint and music theory

[labordayweekend]

I was wondering how many in the Mario Paint community have taken music theory classes. I ask this because Mario Paint is actually what inspired me to take some college level theory a year ago. It helped my compositions immensely; my first few videos were pretty disastrous, but I got much better. I even got to the point that I could write my own songs pretty well. So then, how about you guys? Any formal music education?

[bally]

I practice reading music literature often (at an all-state / full concert band score level), but I'm self-taught in its structure and music theory. (i.e. I know close to nothing) I understand enough to dish out the most generic piece of garbage you could ever call a song in two seconds, but anything more complex I come up with is all figured out by screwing around with a piano or marimba. (I'm practicing chords a lot, so it's easy to come up with some stuff)

I'd love to learn more though.

[Rusty]

I'm a complete musical idiot. xD

I've only taken a few years of band, and no outside music theory until far after I started MPC. I don't know any of the music jargon that a lot of people use, so I get confused a lot.

I pretty much just do what sounds good to me when it comes to remixes and OCs. I pretty much just learned from listening to music, and recognizing common structures and such.

[PopTart]

I took Music Theory I in high school, but that's it I've always wanted to learn more, and I admire those who have great theory knowledge, especially since I've already forgotten a good portion of what I learned in Theory I X-D

[tommy73]

I started music and doing piano lessons, because of MPC. hehe

[FC]

I had IB Music Theory (along with 6 years playing trombone if that means anything).

[RehdBlob]

I've played/learned piano since I was four years old, and I learned music theory alongside that.
I also self-studied music theory in high school.

[Mr. Sub]

I've done and passed my grade 5 musical theory, so my general musical theory knowledge is pretty good. It was very much a crash course in musical theory by our school's headmaster, who taught it so that even if you don't understand it you can still pass the exam. However, from years of guitar playing and trying to work out some theory of the stuff I played, the things he taught us slotted into place quite quickly for me, so I was kinda lucky in that sense.

I've also had violin lessons since I was about 8, so I've picked up a bit from that too.
Now, especially on guitar and piano, which I taught myself, I can understand what I'm actually playing a lot better, and because I can hear when a song is on chord 1, 4, 5 or 6 then I can work out how to play songs fairly easily too.

[Jamie]

I know a tiny bit of theory, taught in my music classes in high school. Thankfully, I start university classes next week and I'm taking a theory course there.

Back before I really liked music, piano was the only instrument I played, because my parents forced me to. It wasn't until I started MPC that I realized how much I liked music, and then began to take my piano/sax playing to a more personal style, instead of just playing X movement by Y old guy I never heard of.

Then I picked up guitar, and realized how much I liked playing different instruments.

As for theory, I've been told I have a good ear for intervals and chords, and I know basic harmonization. That's all.

[Youne]

I know a little bit of theory, spread out through my life of music playing and whatnot.

I've played cello since I was about 5, which has greatly helped my little to no music theory. However, I have taken no formal classes on theory as of yet, I will be taking theory intensive classes this coming year of college though. I do know enough very basic theory to get around, but I have a really difficult time remembering keys for some reason. Intervals and chords aren't that easy for me either. I just do everything by ear when it comes to that stuff. Trial and error is always a good way to learn parts of theory, even if you don't know the technical terms for it and whatnot. I do know my way around the staff in practically every clef, being able to read bass, treble, alto, and tenor quite easily as they are all required for cello playing.

[buckyboy2009]

Not a lick.

I was in choir and played the tenor sax (both ended after middle school), so I knew how to read music. Everything else has been either experimenting or dicking around until something worked.

I might go into music once I'm done with my degree.

[labordayweekend]

Sept 6, 2011 0:52:33 GMT -6 tommy73 said:

I started music and doing piano lessons, because of MPC. hehe

Yep, me too. I never realized how much I enjoyed music until I started composing with Mario Paint. It's very fortunate that I downloaded it on a whim one day.

[JohnFreeman]

i can play a little piano, mostly just for recreational use (learning video game music <_<)

i know how to read sheet music but that's about it, lol. If you ask me what's sharp in an F scale or what a diminished fifth is i'm clueless

[PhantomTaco]

I played the trumpet for like 10 years, but I was never good at it or anything. Then I started Mario Painting, and I took an intro music theory course. And that's it!

Also I was in an epic metal band, but that literally helped me in no ways music-wise. I can play a little keyboard thanks to that, though. BLOOOOOOOOO

[BlutoCash]

In school I studied violin intensively for over 10 years. That coupled with private lessons got me moderately familiar with music theory. That was all years ago, and much of that stuff has left me. Now that I've started REAL life, I've got no time to brush up on that stuff, but Mario Paint sure has resurrected a lot of the knowledge I thought I had lost.

Being roughly familiar with how sheet music is structured sure helps a lot when trying to jot down songs I'm figuring out by ear. I started as a Midi conversion addict and have slowly progressed to more by ear as I've tackled more and more song midis that are just unreliable and bad.

Also, Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge.

[jaggedsky17]

BOTH of my parents are music teachers so I'm constantly exposed to music. I also am in the middle of AP Music Theory at the High School level and this is my 6th year as a cellist. (Not to mention that I have been singing my whole life) I know that music theory so far has given me more ideas of how to make my comps more interesting. Plus, I think of songs instantaneously when I hear a chord or scale.

[GuitarMaster72]

Dude, I started out translating all notes I learned from guitar onto mario paint. In fact, A lot of the "power chords" come naturally, and I always know which notes to try without much question when trying to figure out the right sound of a certain part.

[Youne]

Sept 7, 2011 18:50:30 GMT -6 jaggedsky17 said:

BOTH of my parents are music teachers so I'm constantly exposed to music. I also am in the middle of AP Music Theory at the High School level and this is my 6th year as a cellist. (Not to mention that I have been singing my whole life) I know that music theory so far has given me more ideas of how to make my comps more interesting. Plus, I think of songs instantaneously when I hear a chord or scale.

another cellist! Awesome! There are far too few of our breed. Though I hardly play anymore at all. Last time I touched my cello was a good 6 months or so ago.

[jaggedsky17]

Sept 8, 2011 0:34:13 GMT -6 Youne said:

another cellist! Awesome! There are far too few of our breed. Though I hardly play anymore at all. Last time I touched my cello was a good 6 months or so ago.

Oh man you know it! The chamber orch at my school has only 4 cellists and I one of them. Since school began I've been playing but this summer... well you can guess. Are you in an orch to?

[Youne]

Sept 10, 2011 19:36:50 GMT -6 jaggedsky17 said:

Sept 8, 2011 0:34:13 GMT -6 Youne said:

another cellist! Awesome! There are far too few of our breed. Though I hardly play anymore at all. Last time I touched my cello was a good 6 months or so ago.

Oh man you know it! The chamber orch at my school has only 4 cellists and I one of them. Since school began I've been playing but this summer... well you can guess. Are you in an orch to?

I used to be. About 2 or 3 years ago in the community orchestra conducted by my crazy professional musician cello teacher dude. Since college though, I have not played at all. I'm active in other non-cello music endeavors though at the moment, so at least I'm still exposed to it on a semi daily basis.