A book and the internet can only get you so far, you need some one-on-one guidance with an instructor to really grasp the deeper concepts of tonal harmony and chromaticism. The problem with alot of the theory books on the market is they're not generally written for someone with no prior knowledge or experience with these concepts. They're often meant as supplemental resources for students or those looking to brush up on concepts they've forgotten or are unsure about. Sites like Musictheory.net are great for getting the fundamentals down, but when you start getting into counterpoint, voice-leading, SATB part-writing, tonicization and chromaticism, ear-training/sightsinging, and analysis, you really need the personal guidance of an instructor. Even though I taught myself the basics of music theory, I realized that I needed some more structure and guidance so I enrolled in the Music program at my college and got my shit together. Not saying i'm an expert, but i'm in my second year as a music major and I could not imagine having to try to teach myself some of the stuff i've learned thus far. I'm sure Bandcoach would agree, there are certain aspects of theory that a book or website can't clearly convey the way a real instructor could.
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Learning music theory (in addition to learning the guitar, classical piano, and sightsinging/ear-training) has given me a clear way to approach and express the ideas I have in my head. I still have lots to learn, but even in my second year as a music major, its given me so much perspective on what it is i'm hearing. In other words, its helped me to make sense of the music I hear and allows me (with a small bit of trial and error) to replicate or even expand on those musical ideas. Most people will claim that it will hold you back, but that's if you're attitude and approach is all wrong. More knowledge will open the doors to more experiences, which will broaden your music instincts further and make you a much more diverse musician. As a musician, you should be learning to use your ears first of all, theory is just helping you to understand what it is you're hearing and why it sounds good/bad to your ears. Its not a bunch of rigid rules and dogma that you have to adhere to, but a roadmap, really. I've gained so many new compositional tools to better express myself with in the two years i've been studying.
