Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music.

It
generally derives from observation of how musicians and composers make
music, but includes hypothetical speculation. Most commonly, the term
describes the academic study and analysis of fundamental elements of
music such as pitch, rhythm, harmony, and form, but also refers to
descriptions, concepts, or beliefs related to music. Because of the everexpanding conception of what constitutes music (see Definition of music), a
more inclusive definition could be that music theory is the consideration of
any sonic phenomena, including silence, as it relates to music.
Music theory is a subfield of musicology, which is itself a subfield within the
overarching field of the arts and humanities. Etymologically, music theory is
an act of contemplation of music, from the Greek , a looking at,
viewing, contemplation, speculation, theory, also a sight, a spectacle. [1] As
such, it is often concerned with abstract musical aspects such as tuning
and tonal systems, scales, consonance and dissonance, and rhythmic
relationships, but there is also a body of theory concerning such practical
aspects as the creation or the performance of music, orchestration,
ornamentation, improvisation, and electronic sound production. [2] A person
working in music theory is a music theorist. Methods of analysis include
mathematics, graphic analysis, and, especially, analysis enabled by
Western music notation. Comparative, descriptive, statistical, and other
methods are also used.
The development, preservation, and transmission of music theory may be
found in oral and practical music-making traditions, musical instruments,
and other artifacts. For example, ancient instruments from Mesopotamia,
China,[3] and prehistoric sites around the world reveal details about the
music they produced and, potentially, something of the musical theory that
might have been used by their makers (see History of music and Musical
instrument). In ancient and living cultures around the world, the deep and
long roots of music theory are clearly visible in instruments, oral traditions,
and current music making. Many cultures, at least as far back as ancient
Mesopotamia, Pharoanic Egypt, and ancient China have also considered

music theory in more formal ways such as written treatises and music
notation.