Music as Biology
What We Like to Hear and Why

If anyone is actually interested in the subject (the actual subject of the biology of music, not the anti-reductionist one that the submission title suggests) there is very interesting course on Coursera that explores the subject.

https://www.coursera.org/learn/music-as-biology/home/

IME, You are so right about trying to learn theory without structure!

But once I understood what all the diddly music bits do together in composition I knew better about what to focus on. For me it all hinges on the journey and destination of a composition. I can see that most clearly in simple compositions like folk songs, especially really old ones. I learned about RESOLVE and CADENCE and it all fell together for me....

http://openmusictheory.com/cadenceTypes.html

Then I explored the concepts on a more abstract level: https://www.coursera.org/learn/music-as-biology/lecture/CGmnm/tension-and-resolution

Are you seriously telling me you think you know fuck all about music and you don't know things like major keys are considered joyous sounding compared to minor keys?

http://www.ethanhein.com/wp/2010/scales-and-emotions/

https://www.coursera.org/learn/music-as-biology/lecture/mXpMI/emotions-elicited-by-major-versus-minor-scales

https://www.joytunes.com/blog/music-innovation/the-recipe-to-create-emotions-using-music/