Guido of Arezzo and His Influence on Music Learning

• Main Author: Anna J. Reisenweaver
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Music and Worship 2012-05-01
• Series: Musical Offerings
• Subjects: Guido of Arezzo; Guido d'Arezzo
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/musicalofferings/vol3/iss1/4/

Throughout the history of Western music, Guido of Arezzo stands out as one of the most influential theorists and pedagogues of the Middle Ages. His developments of the hexachord system, solmization syllables, and music notation revolutionized the teaching and learning of music during his time and laid the foundation for our modern system of music. While previous theorists were interested in the philosophical and mathematical nature of music, Guido’s desire to aid singers in the learning process was practical. Through his innovations, students were able to classify, sight-sing, and visualize the music they were learning, ultimately resulting in an easier, simpler, and more efficient way to learn music. By building upon the theories of those before him, Guido expanded and reshaped the musical system of his day, transformed the way music was taught, and established his ideas as a vital part of our musical heritage.