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HOW TO READ SHEET MUSIC: IS IT hard? is it even necessary?
Is it hard to learn to read sheet music? Perhaps a better question would be, is it even necessary?
A lot of music teaching obsesses on the technical “coding-decoding” aspects of music, how to read sheet music and how to notate it. And especially how to eliminate “errors.” Playing each note absolutely “correctly.” Exactly as notated. Never mind emotional substance and content. Many students who take years of conservatory lessons can sight read the most complex classical pieces, yet have no real understanding of how music works, and could not play a Hank Williams song without the sheet music.
Notating sheet music used to be the only way to make a permanent record of a song or other piece of music. If you were a songwriter and did not know how to notate, you had to either learn how, or find someone to do it for you.
When personal recording technology came along, you could create a permanent record of a song without having to learn music notation. Now, with digital technology, you can use any number of hardware and software products to turn the music you play into musical notation—for the benefit of musicians who don’t know how to play by ear.
It’s the age of post-literate musicianship. With a computer and a few apps, you can create elaborate music without even having to learn to play a musical instrument.