Drum teacher OR Piano teacher? Which one for learning theory??

[Lance69]

Hi guys,

I want to work on my theory this upcoming year and I can't decide whether I should work with this drum teacher at the college who has his doctorate in music or whether I should work with this piano teacher who is also very good and has their doctorate in music. I can't pick both, because I can't afford to.

Which teacher would be more beneficial if I want to concentrate on getting better at theory like ear training and such? I'm guessing the piano teacher...

Thanks,
Lance

[k3ng]

Well they're both doctors so I think you can hardly make a 'wrong' decision here.

I personally learned all my theory through my piano lessons so I guess I'd opt for a piano teacher.

[caddywumpus]

Do you play a melodic/chordal instrument? If so, I would go with a teacher that will teach you theory in accordance to what you already play. It will help put music in perspective much quicker. Or, if you're going to learn an instrument, go with someone who teaches THAT. If none of these apply to you, then go with the piano teacher and learn how to play piano while you're at it. And...have them teach you jazz theory (I've kicked myself for taking the classical route).

Or, if you're planning on taking drum set lessons, but you're just mildly curious about music theory, then I'd go with the drum instructor. I'd also consider taking the sight-singing/ear-training courses that most colleges offer, too. Soooooo valuable.

[Royal]

Well they're both doctors so I think you can hardly make a 'wrong' decision here.
I personally learned all my theory through my piano lessons so I guess I'd opt for a piano teacher.

Same with me.
So I'd go with piano.

[JoePorter]

I would go for the Drum teacher, simply because if u pick up percussion instruments he would be able to teach you theory and ways it works for the instruments you're going to be playing. For example, my percussion instructor always has comments on how this theory lesson applies to the marimba piece i'm studying etc....

But, theory is theory, up to you.

[mrchattr]

Saying you are going to study music theory is like saying you are going to study science...there are so many branches of it, that you need to figure out what you want to focus on more in order to decide.

They both have doctorates in music, so they can both teach the basics of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic theory. What aspect is the most important to you? If you go with the drum instructor, odds are that you will learn a lot of basic melodic/harmonic theory (notes, intervals, scales, modes, chord structure, etc), and learn a LOT of rhythmic theory (really odd time signatures, the way to count any note value, even the weird ones, stuff like that). If you go to the piano teacher, you will probably get the more basic rhythmic theory and then get a lot more about the melodic/harmonic theory.

I have actually found that, in my years of studying rhythmic theory on my own, I have learned stuff that a lot of people I work with in pit orchestras, etc, who have degrees in music, have not learned. However, they know a ton more about harmonies and melodic theory than I do.