Does Learning Music Theory Make You a Worse Musician?
Learning music theory does not make you a worse musician. However, it can create a disconnect if you become too engrossed in theory and lose touch with the music itself. The key is to use music theory as a tool to support ear training, not the other way around. Ear training requires some knowledge of music theory, but it should be prioritized. Music theory can provide security and a tangible understanding, but it's important to spend time on ear training to internalize the sound of music.