MUSIC HARMONY courses: Is it still important to take harmony courses if you're naturally gifted?

Question

MUSIC HARMONY courses: Is it still important to take harmony courses if you're naturally gifted?

Answer 1

All of us are naturally gifted honey:) Yes you do need.

Answer 2

A naturally gifted runner will still never make the olympics without a coach.  If you truly are naturally gifted, then you should love the art enough to want to refine your skills.  Harmony classes would perhaps help you to understand your gift better.  Plus, you can skip making the mistakes that other "naturally gifted" artists have made.  Besides, if you are naturally gifted, it should be an easy course.

Answer 3

most universities assume that every student is "gifted",...

my university held placement exams and set every student in what they felt was the appropriate level of harmony & theory courses. if you can transcribe the opening 16 measures of any symphony by ear (with correct transpositions & voicings for every instrument) without having prior knowledge of the particular symphony------------then you may be "gifted" enough to not need any harmony or theory courses whatsoever.

Answer 4

OK - could you define *naturally gifted*?  You were BORN knowing all the rules of species counterpoint?  You were BORN knowing how to write a 4-voice fugue?  There is ALWAYS something new to learn in music.  The more you know about the internal construction of the pieces you play, the more life and understanding you can bring to them - and then to your listeners.    There are some people who do not get a DEGREE in music, but choose to get an Artist's Diploma, or a performer's certificate - perhaps because they came to that college to intensely study with a certain teacher, or they do not want to take ANY academics.  But they still take music theory and harmony courses - and music history, pedagogy, etc.  Can you tell us more about YOURSELF so we can understand your question better?

Answer 5

Well yes if it's part of your degree. Many times you can place out of it with a test