Well, I for one am glad you asked, Mary, as I have as much trouble w/music theory as you do, probably more. I play the dulcimer, and I still have only my ear to go on as to what is "modal" music, and what's not. For my purposes, aside from just "sounding" modal, if melody can be played all or nearly all w/o changing chords (on guitar, for instance) or needs a chord that isn't in the usual progression, it's likely a "modal" tune. And tho I find much of music theory incomprehensible, I stlll like reading about it.