Why You SHOULD Learn to Read Music notes (Adam Neely response)

A couple of weeks ago Adam Neely posted a Q&A video in which he discusses the importance of being able to read and sight-reading music notation. We love his channel, we love what he does, but we thought the topic could use a little bit more nuance and really some more discussion. It almost seemed as if the abliity to be able to read music is overrated nowadays and almost unneccesary. So we wanted to pitch in and give our two cents.

As mentioned in the video

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What do you guys think?

[DidierMartini]

Hey Guys, i saw the video of adam some weeks ago, and came to the exact conclusion and reaction than yours, and i agree completly with all the observations ! This bring a lot of memory, as a gig pianist but piano teacher too.


One of the last gig i did a long long time ago, it was a whole set of 4 or 5 hours. The pianist of the band couldn't do the gig and asked me to replace him. (Back then, no internet) and the only stuff he gave me was a tape (yes tape, no Cd or Usb key, with tape player which were not always playing at 44, 1 !!) that they recorded during one of their gig.
I spent the whole week or more to transcribe maybe 30 or 40 tunes. Back then, i was getting lot of call, because of that. I was good at sight reading and needed almost no rehearsal most of the time. I have been lucky to learn and read notation before learning any instrument, and it helped a lot, not only for professionnal gigs, but as well in learning the instrument that i choose (keyboards / Piano) much faster !


But I have been a Piano teacher too, and unfortunatly, most of the people we met as a future student, hobbyst or just "normal people", throw in our face the well known line "I hate Notation, I don't want to learn it, it BS" because of previous bad teacher, bad experience in school or because "someone told me that...". Lot of a priori 99% of the time...
and it need most of the time a new approach in the way "of talking" to the student or the person to make them understanding how he/she can enjoy reading music, and how it can help him/her in learning or praticing his instrument.


Most people, as you said, don't see an issue to learn to read and write their speaking langage, but for music, it's a complete different reaction.

[stevebadachmusic]

I don't understand why a musician wouldn't want to know how to read music. It's not like you have to be able to sight read everything, but to have a good fundamental grasp of how notation works sure makes life easier. And reading/writing music is fun. I wonder if people who don't want to read music, also don't read (m)any books.

[SharpElevenMusic]

Let us know what you guys think about the topic!

To be clear, these are arguments assuming you want to take making music and getting better SERIOUSLY, not necessarily when you just like to play around the campfire or for hobby reasons.


And we love Adam Neely, just having a bit of a different angle on this subject.

[markototev]

I'd love to learn to read but I think you have to prioritize based on your level of skill and goals. As a 30+ who only started learning to play the guitar last year, it is something that I'd like to be able to do, but realistically I don't think I'll ever need and more importantly - have the time to do, not without sacrificing all of my available practice time for actual playing and developing the physical skills I need. That said, it's not out of the question and I would love to know some theory and at least be able to read the music, even if not in real time.

But if you're a teen or in your 20s, you got plenty of time most likely and learning that can't hurt.

[e.o.a]

I play guitar and sing too, and I can read tab but I also want to learn how to read music notation, so I can communicate to other instrumentalists...because most other instruments don't use tabs, plus it will give me more depth. Yes you're right what if you had to learn 40 songs and the gig was in 3 days. Its not that possible to memorise that many songs in a short amount of time.

I guess music notation is another language that helps musicians to communicate to eachother, because some music you'll never hear is only available in sheet music, so you're missing out on another world of music. I noticed when a singer or musician wants you to play something they will just hum it or demostrate it on their instruments, but when you can write the sheet music, they will know exactly what you mean instead of them trying to figure it out.

[Oi-mjdv]

For me even if you dont freelance often, it helps with documentation. You have something you can check 6months later: a trascription you did, some lick you want to recheck, you can analyze things better... Its like an external ssd for the brain. Its only upsides

[guitargod]

Reading standard notation is like the ability to read a written language. It is a tool and a framework in which to understand melody, harmony, and rhythm - the fundamentals of music. It remains the most elegant and expressive means of communicating music that may be unfamiliar to the player. Frankly, even tab compared to standard notation is like a Model T car compared to a Ferrari. Once you learn to read and write standard notation, you can communicate with sophisticated musicians just as if you spoke the native language in a foreign country. Does it require experience and work to learn to read well? Absolutely, but the benefits are overwhelming. Certainly it is worth the time and effort for any serious musician. This does not mean one cannot play well and be unable to read. It is just something that enhances your experience and skill level.

Ask yourself this - is there anyone in a symphony orchestra that does not read music fluently?

[pipityri]

I consider reading a vital part of the craft. I'm very suspisious about people who claim to love music but don't want to learn how to read it.

[trixie]

Linking is the greatest memory trick. I recommend the memory book by Harry lorayne and Jerry Lucas.

[kyle-silver]

Sharp 11 Transcriptions EPICALLY BEEFS with YouTube JAZZ MEMER Adam Neely