What is a music theorist?

Answer 1

A music theorist is one who studies or practices Music Theory. Music theory involves analyzing specific pieces of music and developing ideas to explain how they "work". At the most basic level, music theory examines the harmony, melody, rhythm and structure of music.

Music theory identifies specific patterns and styles that are consistent across many pieces of music and also describes how those patterns and styles change over time and vary from one culture to another. Music theory traces the history of music and reveals how our understanding of music has developed over time. Music theory also makes an attempt to explain some of the ways that music is perceived by listeners; for example, why some harmonies or sounds are more pleasing than others, or which patterns satisfy the listeners' expectations and which are surprising.

Music theory is useful to composers and musicians; it helps them understand and categorize a broad range of music. It helps them organize the "facts" of music into a coherent hierarchy of concepts, which leads to a deeper understanding of the art. It also helps them understand what compositional techniques work well and why. That not only gives musicians insight so that they can write their own pieces; it also gives them insight into the intent of other composers, so that they can memorize pieces more easily and perform with more expression.