Does the ability of reading and writing music on staff help with learning music fundamentals?












2















As I see it, notation on sheet music is a tool for translating musical ideas into something that can be read/interpreted by others and played back, given they understand the same set of rules.



I assume also that the way one approaches to music or the instrument played makes thinking about music itself very different. So when it's time to write or create some music, maybe someone trained to see through the lenses of musical notation would come up with some sort of "patterns" or ideas that another person more used to digital creation would have different. It's like if the tool was shaping the craft somehow.



Some time ago I've came across a bass workshop by Victor Wooten that made me think about music in a different way. He explains music as made of 10 elements (notes, rhythm, space, dynamics, articulation...). He believes that all of these are equally important to make music, not even good or bad music, simply music, because you can find them in every melody or song.



Introduction made, now the question. On my personal journey to learn music I've tried guitar playing with no attention to music theory and after that some time in an music school. I'm not reluctant to theory, in fact I like it, but what I fail to see it's the point of making the staff the center of my learning when I don't want to be a classical nor professional interpreter.



I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to express myself with no more limitations than my abilities. Beyond some basic knowledge of notation that certainly is good to have, is there any fundamental element that is better learned using music written on a staff? I'm thinking in rhythm but not sure.










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  • 1





    There is a difference between sight reading and the ability to read and write music on the staff. Sight reading is the ability to play a piece as-written on the first viewing. The ability to read and write, without the skill of sight-reading, is valuable in itself. Which skill do you mean?

    – David Bowling
    3 hours ago











  • Yes, I think you should replace sight reading by reading sheet music to get the answers you are looking for.

    – Albrecht Hügli
    3 hours ago











  • Thanks, good suggestion. You both understood my point. I've edited question and description to be more precise.

    – miquecg
    2 hours ago
















2















As I see it, notation on sheet music is a tool for translating musical ideas into something that can be read/interpreted by others and played back, given they understand the same set of rules.



I assume also that the way one approaches to music or the instrument played makes thinking about music itself very different. So when it's time to write or create some music, maybe someone trained to see through the lenses of musical notation would come up with some sort of "patterns" or ideas that another person more used to digital creation would have different. It's like if the tool was shaping the craft somehow.



Some time ago I've came across a bass workshop by Victor Wooten that made me think about music in a different way. He explains music as made of 10 elements (notes, rhythm, space, dynamics, articulation...). He believes that all of these are equally important to make music, not even good or bad music, simply music, because you can find them in every melody or song.



Introduction made, now the question. On my personal journey to learn music I've tried guitar playing with no attention to music theory and after that some time in an music school. I'm not reluctant to theory, in fact I like it, but what I fail to see it's the point of making the staff the center of my learning when I don't want to be a classical nor professional interpreter.



I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to express myself with no more limitations than my abilities. Beyond some basic knowledge of notation that certainly is good to have, is there any fundamental element that is better learned using music written on a staff? I'm thinking in rhythm but not sure.










share|improve this question









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miquecg is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • 1





    There is a difference between sight reading and the ability to read and write music on the staff. Sight reading is the ability to play a piece as-written on the first viewing. The ability to read and write, without the skill of sight-reading, is valuable in itself. Which skill do you mean?

    – David Bowling
    3 hours ago











  • Yes, I think you should replace sight reading by reading sheet music to get the answers you are looking for.

    – Albrecht Hügli
    3 hours ago











  • Thanks, good suggestion. You both understood my point. I've edited question and description to be more precise.

    – miquecg
    2 hours ago














2












2








2








As I see it, notation on sheet music is a tool for translating musical ideas into something that can be read/interpreted by others and played back, given they understand the same set of rules.



I assume also that the way one approaches to music or the instrument played makes thinking about music itself very different. So when it's time to write or create some music, maybe someone trained to see through the lenses of musical notation would come up with some sort of "patterns" or ideas that another person more used to digital creation would have different. It's like if the tool was shaping the craft somehow.



Some time ago I've came across a bass workshop by Victor Wooten that made me think about music in a different way. He explains music as made of 10 elements (notes, rhythm, space, dynamics, articulation...). He believes that all of these are equally important to make music, not even good or bad music, simply music, because you can find them in every melody or song.



Introduction made, now the question. On my personal journey to learn music I've tried guitar playing with no attention to music theory and after that some time in an music school. I'm not reluctant to theory, in fact I like it, but what I fail to see it's the point of making the staff the center of my learning when I don't want to be a classical nor professional interpreter.



I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to express myself with no more limitations than my abilities. Beyond some basic knowledge of notation that certainly is good to have, is there any fundamental element that is better learned using music written on a staff? I'm thinking in rhythm but not sure.










share|improve this question









New contributor




miquecg is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












As I see it, notation on sheet music is a tool for translating musical ideas into something that can be read/interpreted by others and played back, given they understand the same set of rules.



I assume also that the way one approaches to music or the instrument played makes thinking about music itself very different. So when it's time to write or create some music, maybe someone trained to see through the lenses of musical notation would come up with some sort of "patterns" or ideas that another person more used to digital creation would have different. It's like if the tool was shaping the craft somehow.



Some time ago I've came across a bass workshop by Victor Wooten that made me think about music in a different way. He explains music as made of 10 elements (notes, rhythm, space, dynamics, articulation...). He believes that all of these are equally important to make music, not even good or bad music, simply music, because you can find them in every melody or song.



Introduction made, now the question. On my personal journey to learn music I've tried guitar playing with no attention to music theory and after that some time in an music school. I'm not reluctant to theory, in fact I like it, but what I fail to see it's the point of making the staff the center of my learning when I don't want to be a classical nor professional interpreter.



I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to express myself with no more limitations than my abilities. Beyond some basic knowledge of notation that certainly is good to have, is there any fundamental element that is better learned using music written on a staff? I'm thinking in rhythm but not sure.







theory notation self-learning






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edited 2 hours ago







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  • 1





    There is a difference between sight reading and the ability to read and write music on the staff. Sight reading is the ability to play a piece as-written on the first viewing. The ability to read and write, without the skill of sight-reading, is valuable in itself. Which skill do you mean?

    – David Bowling
    3 hours ago











  • Yes, I think you should replace sight reading by reading sheet music to get the answers you are looking for.

    – Albrecht Hügli
    3 hours ago











  • Thanks, good suggestion. You both understood my point. I've edited question and description to be more precise.

    – miquecg
    2 hours ago














  • 1





    There is a difference between sight reading and the ability to read and write music on the staff. Sight reading is the ability to play a piece as-written on the first viewing. The ability to read and write, without the skill of sight-reading, is valuable in itself. Which skill do you mean?

    – David Bowling
    3 hours ago











  • Yes, I think you should replace sight reading by reading sheet music to get the answers you are looking for.

    – Albrecht Hügli
    3 hours ago











  • Thanks, good suggestion. You both understood my point. I've edited question and description to be more precise.

    – miquecg
    2 hours ago








1




1





There is a difference between sight reading and the ability to read and write music on the staff. Sight reading is the ability to play a piece as-written on the first viewing. The ability to read and write, without the skill of sight-reading, is valuable in itself. Which skill do you mean?

– David Bowling
3 hours ago





There is a difference between sight reading and the ability to read and write music on the staff. Sight reading is the ability to play a piece as-written on the first viewing. The ability to read and write, without the skill of sight-reading, is valuable in itself. Which skill do you mean?

– David Bowling
3 hours ago













Yes, I think you should replace sight reading by reading sheet music to get the answers you are looking for.

– Albrecht Hügli
3 hours ago





Yes, I think you should replace sight reading by reading sheet music to get the answers you are looking for.

– Albrecht Hügli
3 hours ago













Thanks, good suggestion. You both understood my point. I've edited question and description to be more precise.

– miquecg
2 hours ago





Thanks, good suggestion. You both understood my point. I've edited question and description to be more precise.

– miquecg
2 hours ago










8 Answers
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I don't see how sight reading would help with learning the fundamentals of music theory, but there is a very strong case of the converse: a better understanding of music theory makes you a better sight reader.



So much of the "Classical" repertoire is built around fundamental patterns of scales and triads. When a pianist simply knows their scales, sight reading a Mozart piano sonata becomes much easier. Instead of tallying a string of 50 straight sixteenth notes, a student adequately trained in music theory will recognize those sixteenths notes as patterns of the A-major scale; the music then almost plays itself.



In the world of jazz, a string of nine chord changes might look completely foreign to someone untrained in music theory. But the adequately trained student recognizes it as a string of ii–V–I progressions; now suddenly the student hearkens back to their training and the improvisation flows naturally.



Keep in mind too that "music theory" isn't just written theory; it also involves ear training. Musicians that "don't want to be a classical nor professional interpreter" often prefer to play by ear. In such cases, the knowledge of common chord patterns makes playing by ear (not to mention composing) much easier and much more successful.






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  • That's a bit my point or idea. Investing more time on ear training to recognize pitch, chords, intervals, etc. than in reading music on a staff.

    – miquecg
    2 hours ago



















4














I can read English. I could read a thesis about nuclear science, or whatever, but it wouldn't make a lot of sense to m, although anyone listening may be able to understand what was being read.



Sight-reading is a great skill to have, but I don't think that that, in itself, will particularly give you a great insight into music, or music theory. Learning how to sight-read may well help, as there are certain premises and facts that are important to know and understand whilst learning how to sight-read.



So, studying theory - with the all important practical playing in tandem to make it make sense - is your better route, learning how to sight-read on the way will help, but purely sight-reading things won't necessarily give you much insight into music. Apart from being able to pick up anything, and play it, so bringing that sheet music to life, and perhaps meeting other genres that, if you can't sight-read, may be denied.






share|improve this answer
























  • Thanks for the reply. I've rephrased a bit my question because the point was not really clear. The things is if "reading music on staff" is any useful to help acquiring basics of music theory or even composing.

    – miquecg
    2 hours ago



















1















I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to express myself with no more limitations than my abilities. Beyond some basic knowledge of notation, is there any fundamental element of music that sight reading would help me to understand better? I'm thinking in rhythm but not sure.




After reading your waste introduction I assume that you actually mean understanding sheet music as you mention just some basic knowledge of notation and the 10 elements of music ...



Reading and understanding of sheet music will be of an interactive benefit for the process of understanding music theory, listening, analyzing and also for the skill of sight reading. Each moment you are investigating to improve your skills for reading scales, intervals, triads and all sorts of chords, rhythm, solfège, clefs and scores will have agreat benefit for all other occupations with music, also for someone who comes from computer music or any instrument.



Don’t forget that all the genius performers who were musical analphabethists were not those genies because they were lacking of reading knowledge, they didn’t know to read sheet music because they were poor and didn’t have the opportunity to learn it.






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    1














    Standard notation inherently relates to a certain model of what music is - for example




    • The idea that music is made of 'notes' and 'rests'

    • The idea of rhythms as being constructed of units of time that are hierarchical subdivisions of a bar

    • the idea that a piece of music is assumed to be diatonic and can be said to be in a certain key


    (There's no reason you have to think of music as being made of 'notes', or having a 'key' - that's just a particular model, albeit a very common one).



    The more used to standard notation you are, the better you will be at thinking of music from the perspective of the model that is implied by standard notation. But if thinking of music in that way is already straightforward for you, then it might be that there isn't any major new musical concept that sight-reading or reading music is going to teach you.



    That isn't to say that reading music might not be an incredibly valuable skill, of course. But then learning Chinese, or real estate law, or welding could also be incredibly valuable too. You have to focus your efforts where it seems the return will be greatest.






    share|improve this answer































      1















      I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to
      express myself with no more limitations than my abilities.




      The trouble is, we DO limit ourselves to our abilities. If our musical journey is limited to 'monkey see, monkey do' we're only going to understand music that we can play, on our chosen instrument, at our level of technique.



      It's useful to see music as notation. It can also be quite an eye-opener to see it as graphic display on a sequencer screen (but that's 'notation' too!) particularly when it's a performance not a quantized construction.



      And yes, even a skilled, reading pianist has to consciously break away from writing stuff that lies under 10 fingers on a keyboard! (But he can, quite easily. His technique isn't a disability.)






      share|improve this answer































        0














        Reading is pretty basic to understanding theory, because we name things differently based on the notation (e.g. an augmented fourth sounds the same as a diminished fifth). Reading also gives a notation to rhythm, and articulation through slurs, legato lines, staccato dots, etc.



        In any field it's useful to have some kind of nomenclature. It gives you something to wrap your head around and communicate with others. You could get along by demonstrating what you mean if you don't have a language to describe it, but notation gives you a faster and clearer method.



        That said, "sight" reading means being able to interepret a piece that you haven't seen before. I think it's a useful skill for the work I do as a guitarist, but it's certainly not essential for all guitarists, and the speed at which you can recognize things like intervals and chords isn't much of a barrier to understanding music theory - if you can follow and understand the written examples in theory texts, you're reading skills are sufficient, and reading faster won't help al that much.






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          0














          You have to see that musical sheets gives to you only 2 things:




          1. WHAT to play/execute;

          2. HOW to play/execute.


          For the first one the sheets will brings to you all the notes or elements which are contained in the song. Is valid reforce that music is not made only of sound and notes but it is made by silence as well. Then this part brings this elements for you.



          Once you know what you need to play (or even sing) the song now you have to know how to perform these elements and this will took by the second topic. If you know all notes and silences you have to do, the sheet music will teach you the durations, expressions, dynamics or even feeling.





          Knowing this you see that sheets can not teach you any music rules or theory, but you don't have to quit from its learning.



          Why?



          Answering: you need to know that sheets are the VISUAL form of a sound. We only can LISTEN to a sound, but we can't see it. The sheet is the way that humans can to SEE the song.



          Then, if you really want be a person that understand music you really have to do it completelly, and learn sheet reading is a part of this knownledge.






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            -3















            but what I fail to see it's the point of making the staff the center
            of my learning when I don't want to be a classical nor professional
            interpreter.




            Same here. Same with the many great musicians such as the Beatles who didn't read music at all. In Jimi Hendrix's biography he writes that his inability to read or write music made him focus better on the music he heard. Same with musicians like Stevie Wonder.



            Sheet music in the past was mainly used as a way to record music. But it's not that great of a tool for learning theory. It doesn't show harmonic analysis such as chords and it shows notes in absolute terms which makes the piece alot harder to transpose.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 1





              You last paragraph is just wrong. Sheet music is used as a way to perform music, recording is only one of the performing domains. Notation is a very good visual music theory learning tool and sheet music very easily shows structures like chords, scales, and motifs not to mention form and may other ideas. Trying to do harmonic analysis without any kind of notation requires a much more advanced ear than a beginner would have and the you still need to notate it some way. Transposing via notation is not a difficult thing, you just need practice like anything else.

              – Dom
              1 hour ago













            • @Dom I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks. I'm a front end software engineer I can develop my own notation. Even something like this would be preferable to sheet music: hooktheory.com/images/controllers/hookpad/…

              – foreyez
              30 mins ago













            • You must continue to develop your own way to write music. It may take hundreds of years to find a way different from what has already developed, and who knows, may be a million times better. But, for now, the current system works for most of us (obviously not yourself) and does the job admirably. I bet you enjoy re-inventing wheels too.

              – Tim
              11 mins ago











            • @Dom something with colors. something that indicates chords and scale degrees. and everything should be in relative terms because music is all relative. it's not canon in D. it's canon in whatever key you want to make it. sheesh.

              – foreyez
              11 mins ago






            • 1





              @foreyez that's not usable for performances nor can it do a lot of what sheet music can and if you talk about making your own I have to reference this xkcd xkcd.com/927. Again if you don't want to deal with sheet music that's fine, but please don't just about spreading misinformation about sheet music notation and be respectful of the notation and those who use it. " I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks." is not constructive and is not respectful.

              – Dom
              11 mins ago










            protected by Dom 1 hour ago



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            8 Answers
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            8 Answers
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            4














            I don't see how sight reading would help with learning the fundamentals of music theory, but there is a very strong case of the converse: a better understanding of music theory makes you a better sight reader.



            So much of the "Classical" repertoire is built around fundamental patterns of scales and triads. When a pianist simply knows their scales, sight reading a Mozart piano sonata becomes much easier. Instead of tallying a string of 50 straight sixteenth notes, a student adequately trained in music theory will recognize those sixteenths notes as patterns of the A-major scale; the music then almost plays itself.



            In the world of jazz, a string of nine chord changes might look completely foreign to someone untrained in music theory. But the adequately trained student recognizes it as a string of ii–V–I progressions; now suddenly the student hearkens back to their training and the improvisation flows naturally.



            Keep in mind too that "music theory" isn't just written theory; it also involves ear training. Musicians that "don't want to be a classical nor professional interpreter" often prefer to play by ear. In such cases, the knowledge of common chord patterns makes playing by ear (not to mention composing) much easier and much more successful.






            share|improve this answer
























            • That's a bit my point or idea. Investing more time on ear training to recognize pitch, chords, intervals, etc. than in reading music on a staff.

              – miquecg
              2 hours ago
















            4














            I don't see how sight reading would help with learning the fundamentals of music theory, but there is a very strong case of the converse: a better understanding of music theory makes you a better sight reader.



            So much of the "Classical" repertoire is built around fundamental patterns of scales and triads. When a pianist simply knows their scales, sight reading a Mozart piano sonata becomes much easier. Instead of tallying a string of 50 straight sixteenth notes, a student adequately trained in music theory will recognize those sixteenths notes as patterns of the A-major scale; the music then almost plays itself.



            In the world of jazz, a string of nine chord changes might look completely foreign to someone untrained in music theory. But the adequately trained student recognizes it as a string of ii–V–I progressions; now suddenly the student hearkens back to their training and the improvisation flows naturally.



            Keep in mind too that "music theory" isn't just written theory; it also involves ear training. Musicians that "don't want to be a classical nor professional interpreter" often prefer to play by ear. In such cases, the knowledge of common chord patterns makes playing by ear (not to mention composing) much easier and much more successful.






            share|improve this answer
























            • That's a bit my point or idea. Investing more time on ear training to recognize pitch, chords, intervals, etc. than in reading music on a staff.

              – miquecg
              2 hours ago














            4












            4








            4







            I don't see how sight reading would help with learning the fundamentals of music theory, but there is a very strong case of the converse: a better understanding of music theory makes you a better sight reader.



            So much of the "Classical" repertoire is built around fundamental patterns of scales and triads. When a pianist simply knows their scales, sight reading a Mozart piano sonata becomes much easier. Instead of tallying a string of 50 straight sixteenth notes, a student adequately trained in music theory will recognize those sixteenths notes as patterns of the A-major scale; the music then almost plays itself.



            In the world of jazz, a string of nine chord changes might look completely foreign to someone untrained in music theory. But the adequately trained student recognizes it as a string of ii–V–I progressions; now suddenly the student hearkens back to their training and the improvisation flows naturally.



            Keep in mind too that "music theory" isn't just written theory; it also involves ear training. Musicians that "don't want to be a classical nor professional interpreter" often prefer to play by ear. In such cases, the knowledge of common chord patterns makes playing by ear (not to mention composing) much easier and much more successful.






            share|improve this answer













            I don't see how sight reading would help with learning the fundamentals of music theory, but there is a very strong case of the converse: a better understanding of music theory makes you a better sight reader.



            So much of the "Classical" repertoire is built around fundamental patterns of scales and triads. When a pianist simply knows their scales, sight reading a Mozart piano sonata becomes much easier. Instead of tallying a string of 50 straight sixteenth notes, a student adequately trained in music theory will recognize those sixteenths notes as patterns of the A-major scale; the music then almost plays itself.



            In the world of jazz, a string of nine chord changes might look completely foreign to someone untrained in music theory. But the adequately trained student recognizes it as a string of ii–V–I progressions; now suddenly the student hearkens back to their training and the improvisation flows naturally.



            Keep in mind too that "music theory" isn't just written theory; it also involves ear training. Musicians that "don't want to be a classical nor professional interpreter" often prefer to play by ear. In such cases, the knowledge of common chord patterns makes playing by ear (not to mention composing) much easier and much more successful.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 3 hours ago









            RichardRichard

            40.9k689174




            40.9k689174













            • That's a bit my point or idea. Investing more time on ear training to recognize pitch, chords, intervals, etc. than in reading music on a staff.

              – miquecg
              2 hours ago



















            • That's a bit my point or idea. Investing more time on ear training to recognize pitch, chords, intervals, etc. than in reading music on a staff.

              – miquecg
              2 hours ago

















            That's a bit my point or idea. Investing more time on ear training to recognize pitch, chords, intervals, etc. than in reading music on a staff.

            – miquecg
            2 hours ago





            That's a bit my point or idea. Investing more time on ear training to recognize pitch, chords, intervals, etc. than in reading music on a staff.

            – miquecg
            2 hours ago











            4














            I can read English. I could read a thesis about nuclear science, or whatever, but it wouldn't make a lot of sense to m, although anyone listening may be able to understand what was being read.



            Sight-reading is a great skill to have, but I don't think that that, in itself, will particularly give you a great insight into music, or music theory. Learning how to sight-read may well help, as there are certain premises and facts that are important to know and understand whilst learning how to sight-read.



            So, studying theory - with the all important practical playing in tandem to make it make sense - is your better route, learning how to sight-read on the way will help, but purely sight-reading things won't necessarily give you much insight into music. Apart from being able to pick up anything, and play it, so bringing that sheet music to life, and perhaps meeting other genres that, if you can't sight-read, may be denied.






            share|improve this answer
























            • Thanks for the reply. I've rephrased a bit my question because the point was not really clear. The things is if "reading music on staff" is any useful to help acquiring basics of music theory or even composing.

              – miquecg
              2 hours ago
















            4














            I can read English. I could read a thesis about nuclear science, or whatever, but it wouldn't make a lot of sense to m, although anyone listening may be able to understand what was being read.



            Sight-reading is a great skill to have, but I don't think that that, in itself, will particularly give you a great insight into music, or music theory. Learning how to sight-read may well help, as there are certain premises and facts that are important to know and understand whilst learning how to sight-read.



            So, studying theory - with the all important practical playing in tandem to make it make sense - is your better route, learning how to sight-read on the way will help, but purely sight-reading things won't necessarily give you much insight into music. Apart from being able to pick up anything, and play it, so bringing that sheet music to life, and perhaps meeting other genres that, if you can't sight-read, may be denied.






            share|improve this answer
























            • Thanks for the reply. I've rephrased a bit my question because the point was not really clear. The things is if "reading music on staff" is any useful to help acquiring basics of music theory or even composing.

              – miquecg
              2 hours ago














            4












            4








            4







            I can read English. I could read a thesis about nuclear science, or whatever, but it wouldn't make a lot of sense to m, although anyone listening may be able to understand what was being read.



            Sight-reading is a great skill to have, but I don't think that that, in itself, will particularly give you a great insight into music, or music theory. Learning how to sight-read may well help, as there are certain premises and facts that are important to know and understand whilst learning how to sight-read.



            So, studying theory - with the all important practical playing in tandem to make it make sense - is your better route, learning how to sight-read on the way will help, but purely sight-reading things won't necessarily give you much insight into music. Apart from being able to pick up anything, and play it, so bringing that sheet music to life, and perhaps meeting other genres that, if you can't sight-read, may be denied.






            share|improve this answer













            I can read English. I could read a thesis about nuclear science, or whatever, but it wouldn't make a lot of sense to m, although anyone listening may be able to understand what was being read.



            Sight-reading is a great skill to have, but I don't think that that, in itself, will particularly give you a great insight into music, or music theory. Learning how to sight-read may well help, as there are certain premises and facts that are important to know and understand whilst learning how to sight-read.



            So, studying theory - with the all important practical playing in tandem to make it make sense - is your better route, learning how to sight-read on the way will help, but purely sight-reading things won't necessarily give you much insight into music. Apart from being able to pick up anything, and play it, so bringing that sheet music to life, and perhaps meeting other genres that, if you can't sight-read, may be denied.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 3 hours ago









            TimTim

            101k10104256




            101k10104256













            • Thanks for the reply. I've rephrased a bit my question because the point was not really clear. The things is if "reading music on staff" is any useful to help acquiring basics of music theory or even composing.

              – miquecg
              2 hours ago



















            • Thanks for the reply. I've rephrased a bit my question because the point was not really clear. The things is if "reading music on staff" is any useful to help acquiring basics of music theory or even composing.

              – miquecg
              2 hours ago

















            Thanks for the reply. I've rephrased a bit my question because the point was not really clear. The things is if "reading music on staff" is any useful to help acquiring basics of music theory or even composing.

            – miquecg
            2 hours ago





            Thanks for the reply. I've rephrased a bit my question because the point was not really clear. The things is if "reading music on staff" is any useful to help acquiring basics of music theory or even composing.

            – miquecg
            2 hours ago











            1















            I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to express myself with no more limitations than my abilities. Beyond some basic knowledge of notation, is there any fundamental element of music that sight reading would help me to understand better? I'm thinking in rhythm but not sure.




            After reading your waste introduction I assume that you actually mean understanding sheet music as you mention just some basic knowledge of notation and the 10 elements of music ...



            Reading and understanding of sheet music will be of an interactive benefit for the process of understanding music theory, listening, analyzing and also for the skill of sight reading. Each moment you are investigating to improve your skills for reading scales, intervals, triads and all sorts of chords, rhythm, solfège, clefs and scores will have agreat benefit for all other occupations with music, also for someone who comes from computer music or any instrument.



            Don’t forget that all the genius performers who were musical analphabethists were not those genies because they were lacking of reading knowledge, they didn’t know to read sheet music because they were poor and didn’t have the opportunity to learn it.






            share|improve this answer




























              1















              I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to express myself with no more limitations than my abilities. Beyond some basic knowledge of notation, is there any fundamental element of music that sight reading would help me to understand better? I'm thinking in rhythm but not sure.




              After reading your waste introduction I assume that you actually mean understanding sheet music as you mention just some basic knowledge of notation and the 10 elements of music ...



              Reading and understanding of sheet music will be of an interactive benefit for the process of understanding music theory, listening, analyzing and also for the skill of sight reading. Each moment you are investigating to improve your skills for reading scales, intervals, triads and all sorts of chords, rhythm, solfège, clefs and scores will have agreat benefit for all other occupations with music, also for someone who comes from computer music or any instrument.



              Don’t forget that all the genius performers who were musical analphabethists were not those genies because they were lacking of reading knowledge, they didn’t know to read sheet music because they were poor and didn’t have the opportunity to learn it.






              share|improve this answer


























                1












                1








                1








                I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to express myself with no more limitations than my abilities. Beyond some basic knowledge of notation, is there any fundamental element of music that sight reading would help me to understand better? I'm thinking in rhythm but not sure.




                After reading your waste introduction I assume that you actually mean understanding sheet music as you mention just some basic knowledge of notation and the 10 elements of music ...



                Reading and understanding of sheet music will be of an interactive benefit for the process of understanding music theory, listening, analyzing and also for the skill of sight reading. Each moment you are investigating to improve your skills for reading scales, intervals, triads and all sorts of chords, rhythm, solfège, clefs and scores will have agreat benefit for all other occupations with music, also for someone who comes from computer music or any instrument.



                Don’t forget that all the genius performers who were musical analphabethists were not those genies because they were lacking of reading knowledge, they didn’t know to read sheet music because they were poor and didn’t have the opportunity to learn it.






                share|improve this answer














                I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to express myself with no more limitations than my abilities. Beyond some basic knowledge of notation, is there any fundamental element of music that sight reading would help me to understand better? I'm thinking in rhythm but not sure.




                After reading your waste introduction I assume that you actually mean understanding sheet music as you mention just some basic knowledge of notation and the 10 elements of music ...



                Reading and understanding of sheet music will be of an interactive benefit for the process of understanding music theory, listening, analyzing and also for the skill of sight reading. Each moment you are investigating to improve your skills for reading scales, intervals, triads and all sorts of chords, rhythm, solfège, clefs and scores will have agreat benefit for all other occupations with music, also for someone who comes from computer music or any instrument.



                Don’t forget that all the genius performers who were musical analphabethists were not those genies because they were lacking of reading knowledge, they didn’t know to read sheet music because they were poor and didn’t have the opportunity to learn it.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 3 hours ago









                Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli

                2,063219




                2,063219























                    1














                    Standard notation inherently relates to a certain model of what music is - for example




                    • The idea that music is made of 'notes' and 'rests'

                    • The idea of rhythms as being constructed of units of time that are hierarchical subdivisions of a bar

                    • the idea that a piece of music is assumed to be diatonic and can be said to be in a certain key


                    (There's no reason you have to think of music as being made of 'notes', or having a 'key' - that's just a particular model, albeit a very common one).



                    The more used to standard notation you are, the better you will be at thinking of music from the perspective of the model that is implied by standard notation. But if thinking of music in that way is already straightforward for you, then it might be that there isn't any major new musical concept that sight-reading or reading music is going to teach you.



                    That isn't to say that reading music might not be an incredibly valuable skill, of course. But then learning Chinese, or real estate law, or welding could also be incredibly valuable too. You have to focus your efforts where it seems the return will be greatest.






                    share|improve this answer




























                      1














                      Standard notation inherently relates to a certain model of what music is - for example




                      • The idea that music is made of 'notes' and 'rests'

                      • The idea of rhythms as being constructed of units of time that are hierarchical subdivisions of a bar

                      • the idea that a piece of music is assumed to be diatonic and can be said to be in a certain key


                      (There's no reason you have to think of music as being made of 'notes', or having a 'key' - that's just a particular model, albeit a very common one).



                      The more used to standard notation you are, the better you will be at thinking of music from the perspective of the model that is implied by standard notation. But if thinking of music in that way is already straightforward for you, then it might be that there isn't any major new musical concept that sight-reading or reading music is going to teach you.



                      That isn't to say that reading music might not be an incredibly valuable skill, of course. But then learning Chinese, or real estate law, or welding could also be incredibly valuable too. You have to focus your efforts where it seems the return will be greatest.






                      share|improve this answer


























                        1












                        1








                        1







                        Standard notation inherently relates to a certain model of what music is - for example




                        • The idea that music is made of 'notes' and 'rests'

                        • The idea of rhythms as being constructed of units of time that are hierarchical subdivisions of a bar

                        • the idea that a piece of music is assumed to be diatonic and can be said to be in a certain key


                        (There's no reason you have to think of music as being made of 'notes', or having a 'key' - that's just a particular model, albeit a very common one).



                        The more used to standard notation you are, the better you will be at thinking of music from the perspective of the model that is implied by standard notation. But if thinking of music in that way is already straightforward for you, then it might be that there isn't any major new musical concept that sight-reading or reading music is going to teach you.



                        That isn't to say that reading music might not be an incredibly valuable skill, of course. But then learning Chinese, or real estate law, or welding could also be incredibly valuable too. You have to focus your efforts where it seems the return will be greatest.






                        share|improve this answer













                        Standard notation inherently relates to a certain model of what music is - for example




                        • The idea that music is made of 'notes' and 'rests'

                        • The idea of rhythms as being constructed of units of time that are hierarchical subdivisions of a bar

                        • the idea that a piece of music is assumed to be diatonic and can be said to be in a certain key


                        (There's no reason you have to think of music as being made of 'notes', or having a 'key' - that's just a particular model, albeit a very common one).



                        The more used to standard notation you are, the better you will be at thinking of music from the perspective of the model that is implied by standard notation. But if thinking of music in that way is already straightforward for you, then it might be that there isn't any major new musical concept that sight-reading or reading music is going to teach you.



                        That isn't to say that reading music might not be an incredibly valuable skill, of course. But then learning Chinese, or real estate law, or welding could also be incredibly valuable too. You have to focus your efforts where it seems the return will be greatest.







                        share|improve this answer












                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer










                        answered 2 hours ago









                        topo mortotopo morto

                        25k243101




                        25k243101























                            1















                            I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to
                            express myself with no more limitations than my abilities.




                            The trouble is, we DO limit ourselves to our abilities. If our musical journey is limited to 'monkey see, monkey do' we're only going to understand music that we can play, on our chosen instrument, at our level of technique.



                            It's useful to see music as notation. It can also be quite an eye-opener to see it as graphic display on a sequencer screen (but that's 'notation' too!) particularly when it's a performance not a quantized construction.



                            And yes, even a skilled, reading pianist has to consciously break away from writing stuff that lies under 10 fingers on a keyboard! (But he can, quite easily. His technique isn't a disability.)






                            share|improve this answer




























                              1















                              I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to
                              express myself with no more limitations than my abilities.




                              The trouble is, we DO limit ourselves to our abilities. If our musical journey is limited to 'monkey see, monkey do' we're only going to understand music that we can play, on our chosen instrument, at our level of technique.



                              It's useful to see music as notation. It can also be quite an eye-opener to see it as graphic display on a sequencer screen (but that's 'notation' too!) particularly when it's a performance not a quantized construction.



                              And yes, even a skilled, reading pianist has to consciously break away from writing stuff that lies under 10 fingers on a keyboard! (But he can, quite easily. His technique isn't a disability.)






                              share|improve this answer


























                                1












                                1








                                1








                                I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to
                                express myself with no more limitations than my abilities.




                                The trouble is, we DO limit ourselves to our abilities. If our musical journey is limited to 'monkey see, monkey do' we're only going to understand music that we can play, on our chosen instrument, at our level of technique.



                                It's useful to see music as notation. It can also be quite an eye-opener to see it as graphic display on a sequencer screen (but that's 'notation' too!) particularly when it's a performance not a quantized construction.



                                And yes, even a skilled, reading pianist has to consciously break away from writing stuff that lies under 10 fingers on a keyboard! (But he can, quite easily. His technique isn't a disability.)






                                share|improve this answer














                                I want to understand music, its elements and details to be able to
                                express myself with no more limitations than my abilities.




                                The trouble is, we DO limit ourselves to our abilities. If our musical journey is limited to 'monkey see, monkey do' we're only going to understand music that we can play, on our chosen instrument, at our level of technique.



                                It's useful to see music as notation. It can also be quite an eye-opener to see it as graphic display on a sequencer screen (but that's 'notation' too!) particularly when it's a performance not a quantized construction.



                                And yes, even a skilled, reading pianist has to consciously break away from writing stuff that lies under 10 fingers on a keyboard! (But he can, quite easily. His technique isn't a disability.)







                                share|improve this answer












                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer










                                answered 2 hours ago









                                Laurence PayneLaurence Payne

                                34.4k1563




                                34.4k1563























                                    0














                                    Reading is pretty basic to understanding theory, because we name things differently based on the notation (e.g. an augmented fourth sounds the same as a diminished fifth). Reading also gives a notation to rhythm, and articulation through slurs, legato lines, staccato dots, etc.



                                    In any field it's useful to have some kind of nomenclature. It gives you something to wrap your head around and communicate with others. You could get along by demonstrating what you mean if you don't have a language to describe it, but notation gives you a faster and clearer method.



                                    That said, "sight" reading means being able to interepret a piece that you haven't seen before. I think it's a useful skill for the work I do as a guitarist, but it's certainly not essential for all guitarists, and the speed at which you can recognize things like intervals and chords isn't much of a barrier to understanding music theory - if you can follow and understand the written examples in theory texts, you're reading skills are sufficient, and reading faster won't help al that much.






                                    share|improve this answer








                                    New contributor




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                                      0














                                      Reading is pretty basic to understanding theory, because we name things differently based on the notation (e.g. an augmented fourth sounds the same as a diminished fifth). Reading also gives a notation to rhythm, and articulation through slurs, legato lines, staccato dots, etc.



                                      In any field it's useful to have some kind of nomenclature. It gives you something to wrap your head around and communicate with others. You could get along by demonstrating what you mean if you don't have a language to describe it, but notation gives you a faster and clearer method.



                                      That said, "sight" reading means being able to interepret a piece that you haven't seen before. I think it's a useful skill for the work I do as a guitarist, but it's certainly not essential for all guitarists, and the speed at which you can recognize things like intervals and chords isn't much of a barrier to understanding music theory - if you can follow and understand the written examples in theory texts, you're reading skills are sufficient, and reading faster won't help al that much.






                                      share|improve this answer








                                      New contributor




                                      Tom Serb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                      Check out our Code of Conduct.























                                        0












                                        0








                                        0







                                        Reading is pretty basic to understanding theory, because we name things differently based on the notation (e.g. an augmented fourth sounds the same as a diminished fifth). Reading also gives a notation to rhythm, and articulation through slurs, legato lines, staccato dots, etc.



                                        In any field it's useful to have some kind of nomenclature. It gives you something to wrap your head around and communicate with others. You could get along by demonstrating what you mean if you don't have a language to describe it, but notation gives you a faster and clearer method.



                                        That said, "sight" reading means being able to interepret a piece that you haven't seen before. I think it's a useful skill for the work I do as a guitarist, but it's certainly not essential for all guitarists, and the speed at which you can recognize things like intervals and chords isn't much of a barrier to understanding music theory - if you can follow and understand the written examples in theory texts, you're reading skills are sufficient, and reading faster won't help al that much.






                                        share|improve this answer








                                        New contributor




                                        Tom Serb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                        Check out our Code of Conduct.










                                        Reading is pretty basic to understanding theory, because we name things differently based on the notation (e.g. an augmented fourth sounds the same as a diminished fifth). Reading also gives a notation to rhythm, and articulation through slurs, legato lines, staccato dots, etc.



                                        In any field it's useful to have some kind of nomenclature. It gives you something to wrap your head around and communicate with others. You could get along by demonstrating what you mean if you don't have a language to describe it, but notation gives you a faster and clearer method.



                                        That said, "sight" reading means being able to interepret a piece that you haven't seen before. I think it's a useful skill for the work I do as a guitarist, but it's certainly not essential for all guitarists, and the speed at which you can recognize things like intervals and chords isn't much of a barrier to understanding music theory - if you can follow and understand the written examples in theory texts, you're reading skills are sufficient, and reading faster won't help al that much.







                                        share|improve this answer








                                        New contributor




                                        Tom Serb is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                        share|improve this answer



                                        share|improve this answer






                                        New contributor




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                                        answered 3 hours ago









                                        Tom SerbTom Serb

                                        424




                                        424




                                        New contributor




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                                        New contributor





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                                            0














                                            You have to see that musical sheets gives to you only 2 things:




                                            1. WHAT to play/execute;

                                            2. HOW to play/execute.


                                            For the first one the sheets will brings to you all the notes or elements which are contained in the song. Is valid reforce that music is not made only of sound and notes but it is made by silence as well. Then this part brings this elements for you.



                                            Once you know what you need to play (or even sing) the song now you have to know how to perform these elements and this will took by the second topic. If you know all notes and silences you have to do, the sheet music will teach you the durations, expressions, dynamics or even feeling.





                                            Knowing this you see that sheets can not teach you any music rules or theory, but you don't have to quit from its learning.



                                            Why?



                                            Answering: you need to know that sheets are the VISUAL form of a sound. We only can LISTEN to a sound, but we can't see it. The sheet is the way that humans can to SEE the song.



                                            Then, if you really want be a person that understand music you really have to do it completelly, and learn sheet reading is a part of this knownledge.






                                            share|improve this answer








                                            New contributor




                                            Lucas Sousa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                              0














                                              You have to see that musical sheets gives to you only 2 things:




                                              1. WHAT to play/execute;

                                              2. HOW to play/execute.


                                              For the first one the sheets will brings to you all the notes or elements which are contained in the song. Is valid reforce that music is not made only of sound and notes but it is made by silence as well. Then this part brings this elements for you.



                                              Once you know what you need to play (or even sing) the song now you have to know how to perform these elements and this will took by the second topic. If you know all notes and silences you have to do, the sheet music will teach you the durations, expressions, dynamics or even feeling.





                                              Knowing this you see that sheets can not teach you any music rules or theory, but you don't have to quit from its learning.



                                              Why?



                                              Answering: you need to know that sheets are the VISUAL form of a sound. We only can LISTEN to a sound, but we can't see it. The sheet is the way that humans can to SEE the song.



                                              Then, if you really want be a person that understand music you really have to do it completelly, and learn sheet reading is a part of this knownledge.






                                              share|improve this answer








                                              New contributor




                                              Lucas Sousa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                              Check out our Code of Conduct.























                                                0












                                                0








                                                0







                                                You have to see that musical sheets gives to you only 2 things:




                                                1. WHAT to play/execute;

                                                2. HOW to play/execute.


                                                For the first one the sheets will brings to you all the notes or elements which are contained in the song. Is valid reforce that music is not made only of sound and notes but it is made by silence as well. Then this part brings this elements for you.



                                                Once you know what you need to play (or even sing) the song now you have to know how to perform these elements and this will took by the second topic. If you know all notes and silences you have to do, the sheet music will teach you the durations, expressions, dynamics or even feeling.





                                                Knowing this you see that sheets can not teach you any music rules or theory, but you don't have to quit from its learning.



                                                Why?



                                                Answering: you need to know that sheets are the VISUAL form of a sound. We only can LISTEN to a sound, but we can't see it. The sheet is the way that humans can to SEE the song.



                                                Then, if you really want be a person that understand music you really have to do it completelly, and learn sheet reading is a part of this knownledge.






                                                share|improve this answer








                                                New contributor




                                                Lucas Sousa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                                Check out our Code of Conduct.










                                                You have to see that musical sheets gives to you only 2 things:




                                                1. WHAT to play/execute;

                                                2. HOW to play/execute.


                                                For the first one the sheets will brings to you all the notes or elements which are contained in the song. Is valid reforce that music is not made only of sound and notes but it is made by silence as well. Then this part brings this elements for you.



                                                Once you know what you need to play (or even sing) the song now you have to know how to perform these elements and this will took by the second topic. If you know all notes and silences you have to do, the sheet music will teach you the durations, expressions, dynamics or even feeling.





                                                Knowing this you see that sheets can not teach you any music rules or theory, but you don't have to quit from its learning.



                                                Why?



                                                Answering: you need to know that sheets are the VISUAL form of a sound. We only can LISTEN to a sound, but we can't see it. The sheet is the way that humans can to SEE the song.



                                                Then, if you really want be a person that understand music you really have to do it completelly, and learn sheet reading is a part of this knownledge.







                                                share|improve this answer








                                                New contributor




                                                Lucas Sousa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                                share|improve this answer



                                                share|improve this answer






                                                New contributor




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                                                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                                answered 1 hour ago









                                                Lucas SousaLucas Sousa

                                                11




                                                11




                                                New contributor




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                                                New contributor





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                                                    -3















                                                    but what I fail to see it's the point of making the staff the center
                                                    of my learning when I don't want to be a classical nor professional
                                                    interpreter.




                                                    Same here. Same with the many great musicians such as the Beatles who didn't read music at all. In Jimi Hendrix's biography he writes that his inability to read or write music made him focus better on the music he heard. Same with musicians like Stevie Wonder.



                                                    Sheet music in the past was mainly used as a way to record music. But it's not that great of a tool for learning theory. It doesn't show harmonic analysis such as chords and it shows notes in absolute terms which makes the piece alot harder to transpose.






                                                    share|improve this answer



















                                                    • 1





                                                      You last paragraph is just wrong. Sheet music is used as a way to perform music, recording is only one of the performing domains. Notation is a very good visual music theory learning tool and sheet music very easily shows structures like chords, scales, and motifs not to mention form and may other ideas. Trying to do harmonic analysis without any kind of notation requires a much more advanced ear than a beginner would have and the you still need to notate it some way. Transposing via notation is not a difficult thing, you just need practice like anything else.

                                                      – Dom
                                                      1 hour ago













                                                    • @Dom I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks. I'm a front end software engineer I can develop my own notation. Even something like this would be preferable to sheet music: hooktheory.com/images/controllers/hookpad/…

                                                      – foreyez
                                                      30 mins ago













                                                    • You must continue to develop your own way to write music. It may take hundreds of years to find a way different from what has already developed, and who knows, may be a million times better. But, for now, the current system works for most of us (obviously not yourself) and does the job admirably. I bet you enjoy re-inventing wheels too.

                                                      – Tim
                                                      11 mins ago











                                                    • @Dom something with colors. something that indicates chords and scale degrees. and everything should be in relative terms because music is all relative. it's not canon in D. it's canon in whatever key you want to make it. sheesh.

                                                      – foreyez
                                                      11 mins ago






                                                    • 1





                                                      @foreyez that's not usable for performances nor can it do a lot of what sheet music can and if you talk about making your own I have to reference this xkcd xkcd.com/927. Again if you don't want to deal with sheet music that's fine, but please don't just about spreading misinformation about sheet music notation and be respectful of the notation and those who use it. " I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks." is not constructive and is not respectful.

                                                      – Dom
                                                      11 mins ago
















                                                    -3















                                                    but what I fail to see it's the point of making the staff the center
                                                    of my learning when I don't want to be a classical nor professional
                                                    interpreter.




                                                    Same here. Same with the many great musicians such as the Beatles who didn't read music at all. In Jimi Hendrix's biography he writes that his inability to read or write music made him focus better on the music he heard. Same with musicians like Stevie Wonder.



                                                    Sheet music in the past was mainly used as a way to record music. But it's not that great of a tool for learning theory. It doesn't show harmonic analysis such as chords and it shows notes in absolute terms which makes the piece alot harder to transpose.






                                                    share|improve this answer



















                                                    • 1





                                                      You last paragraph is just wrong. Sheet music is used as a way to perform music, recording is only one of the performing domains. Notation is a very good visual music theory learning tool and sheet music very easily shows structures like chords, scales, and motifs not to mention form and may other ideas. Trying to do harmonic analysis without any kind of notation requires a much more advanced ear than a beginner would have and the you still need to notate it some way. Transposing via notation is not a difficult thing, you just need practice like anything else.

                                                      – Dom
                                                      1 hour ago













                                                    • @Dom I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks. I'm a front end software engineer I can develop my own notation. Even something like this would be preferable to sheet music: hooktheory.com/images/controllers/hookpad/…

                                                      – foreyez
                                                      30 mins ago













                                                    • You must continue to develop your own way to write music. It may take hundreds of years to find a way different from what has already developed, and who knows, may be a million times better. But, for now, the current system works for most of us (obviously not yourself) and does the job admirably. I bet you enjoy re-inventing wheels too.

                                                      – Tim
                                                      11 mins ago











                                                    • @Dom something with colors. something that indicates chords and scale degrees. and everything should be in relative terms because music is all relative. it's not canon in D. it's canon in whatever key you want to make it. sheesh.

                                                      – foreyez
                                                      11 mins ago






                                                    • 1





                                                      @foreyez that's not usable for performances nor can it do a lot of what sheet music can and if you talk about making your own I have to reference this xkcd xkcd.com/927. Again if you don't want to deal with sheet music that's fine, but please don't just about spreading misinformation about sheet music notation and be respectful of the notation and those who use it. " I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks." is not constructive and is not respectful.

                                                      – Dom
                                                      11 mins ago














                                                    -3












                                                    -3








                                                    -3








                                                    but what I fail to see it's the point of making the staff the center
                                                    of my learning when I don't want to be a classical nor professional
                                                    interpreter.




                                                    Same here. Same with the many great musicians such as the Beatles who didn't read music at all. In Jimi Hendrix's biography he writes that his inability to read or write music made him focus better on the music he heard. Same with musicians like Stevie Wonder.



                                                    Sheet music in the past was mainly used as a way to record music. But it's not that great of a tool for learning theory. It doesn't show harmonic analysis such as chords and it shows notes in absolute terms which makes the piece alot harder to transpose.






                                                    share|improve this answer














                                                    but what I fail to see it's the point of making the staff the center
                                                    of my learning when I don't want to be a classical nor professional
                                                    interpreter.




                                                    Same here. Same with the many great musicians such as the Beatles who didn't read music at all. In Jimi Hendrix's biography he writes that his inability to read or write music made him focus better on the music he heard. Same with musicians like Stevie Wonder.



                                                    Sheet music in the past was mainly used as a way to record music. But it's not that great of a tool for learning theory. It doesn't show harmonic analysis such as chords and it shows notes in absolute terms which makes the piece alot harder to transpose.







                                                    share|improve this answer












                                                    share|improve this answer



                                                    share|improve this answer










                                                    answered 2 hours ago









                                                    foreyezforeyez

                                                    4,79732478




                                                    4,79732478








                                                    • 1





                                                      You last paragraph is just wrong. Sheet music is used as a way to perform music, recording is only one of the performing domains. Notation is a very good visual music theory learning tool and sheet music very easily shows structures like chords, scales, and motifs not to mention form and may other ideas. Trying to do harmonic analysis without any kind of notation requires a much more advanced ear than a beginner would have and the you still need to notate it some way. Transposing via notation is not a difficult thing, you just need practice like anything else.

                                                      – Dom
                                                      1 hour ago













                                                    • @Dom I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks. I'm a front end software engineer I can develop my own notation. Even something like this would be preferable to sheet music: hooktheory.com/images/controllers/hookpad/…

                                                      – foreyez
                                                      30 mins ago













                                                    • You must continue to develop your own way to write music. It may take hundreds of years to find a way different from what has already developed, and who knows, may be a million times better. But, for now, the current system works for most of us (obviously not yourself) and does the job admirably. I bet you enjoy re-inventing wheels too.

                                                      – Tim
                                                      11 mins ago











                                                    • @Dom something with colors. something that indicates chords and scale degrees. and everything should be in relative terms because music is all relative. it's not canon in D. it's canon in whatever key you want to make it. sheesh.

                                                      – foreyez
                                                      11 mins ago






                                                    • 1





                                                      @foreyez that's not usable for performances nor can it do a lot of what sheet music can and if you talk about making your own I have to reference this xkcd xkcd.com/927. Again if you don't want to deal with sheet music that's fine, but please don't just about spreading misinformation about sheet music notation and be respectful of the notation and those who use it. " I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks." is not constructive and is not respectful.

                                                      – Dom
                                                      11 mins ago














                                                    • 1





                                                      You last paragraph is just wrong. Sheet music is used as a way to perform music, recording is only one of the performing domains. Notation is a very good visual music theory learning tool and sheet music very easily shows structures like chords, scales, and motifs not to mention form and may other ideas. Trying to do harmonic analysis without any kind of notation requires a much more advanced ear than a beginner would have and the you still need to notate it some way. Transposing via notation is not a difficult thing, you just need practice like anything else.

                                                      – Dom
                                                      1 hour ago













                                                    • @Dom I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks. I'm a front end software engineer I can develop my own notation. Even something like this would be preferable to sheet music: hooktheory.com/images/controllers/hookpad/…

                                                      – foreyez
                                                      30 mins ago













                                                    • You must continue to develop your own way to write music. It may take hundreds of years to find a way different from what has already developed, and who knows, may be a million times better. But, for now, the current system works for most of us (obviously not yourself) and does the job admirably. I bet you enjoy re-inventing wheels too.

                                                      – Tim
                                                      11 mins ago











                                                    • @Dom something with colors. something that indicates chords and scale degrees. and everything should be in relative terms because music is all relative. it's not canon in D. it's canon in whatever key you want to make it. sheesh.

                                                      – foreyez
                                                      11 mins ago






                                                    • 1





                                                      @foreyez that's not usable for performances nor can it do a lot of what sheet music can and if you talk about making your own I have to reference this xkcd xkcd.com/927. Again if you don't want to deal with sheet music that's fine, but please don't just about spreading misinformation about sheet music notation and be respectful of the notation and those who use it. " I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks." is not constructive and is not respectful.

                                                      – Dom
                                                      11 mins ago








                                                    1




                                                    1





                                                    You last paragraph is just wrong. Sheet music is used as a way to perform music, recording is only one of the performing domains. Notation is a very good visual music theory learning tool and sheet music very easily shows structures like chords, scales, and motifs not to mention form and may other ideas. Trying to do harmonic analysis without any kind of notation requires a much more advanced ear than a beginner would have and the you still need to notate it some way. Transposing via notation is not a difficult thing, you just need practice like anything else.

                                                    – Dom
                                                    1 hour ago







                                                    You last paragraph is just wrong. Sheet music is used as a way to perform music, recording is only one of the performing domains. Notation is a very good visual music theory learning tool and sheet music very easily shows structures like chords, scales, and motifs not to mention form and may other ideas. Trying to do harmonic analysis without any kind of notation requires a much more advanced ear than a beginner would have and the you still need to notate it some way. Transposing via notation is not a difficult thing, you just need practice like anything else.

                                                    – Dom
                                                    1 hour ago















                                                    @Dom I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks. I'm a front end software engineer I can develop my own notation. Even something like this would be preferable to sheet music: hooktheory.com/images/controllers/hookpad/…

                                                    – foreyez
                                                    30 mins ago







                                                    @Dom I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks. I'm a front end software engineer I can develop my own notation. Even something like this would be preferable to sheet music: hooktheory.com/images/controllers/hookpad/…

                                                    – foreyez
                                                    30 mins ago















                                                    You must continue to develop your own way to write music. It may take hundreds of years to find a way different from what has already developed, and who knows, may be a million times better. But, for now, the current system works for most of us (obviously not yourself) and does the job admirably. I bet you enjoy re-inventing wheels too.

                                                    – Tim
                                                    11 mins ago





                                                    You must continue to develop your own way to write music. It may take hundreds of years to find a way different from what has already developed, and who knows, may be a million times better. But, for now, the current system works for most of us (obviously not yourself) and does the job admirably. I bet you enjoy re-inventing wheels too.

                                                    – Tim
                                                    11 mins ago













                                                    @Dom something with colors. something that indicates chords and scale degrees. and everything should be in relative terms because music is all relative. it's not canon in D. it's canon in whatever key you want to make it. sheesh.

                                                    – foreyez
                                                    11 mins ago





                                                    @Dom something with colors. something that indicates chords and scale degrees. and everything should be in relative terms because music is all relative. it's not canon in D. it's canon in whatever key you want to make it. sheesh.

                                                    – foreyez
                                                    11 mins ago




                                                    1




                                                    1





                                                    @foreyez that's not usable for performances nor can it do a lot of what sheet music can and if you talk about making your own I have to reference this xkcd xkcd.com/927. Again if you don't want to deal with sheet music that's fine, but please don't just about spreading misinformation about sheet music notation and be respectful of the notation and those who use it. " I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks." is not constructive and is not respectful.

                                                    – Dom
                                                    11 mins ago





                                                    @foreyez that's not usable for performances nor can it do a lot of what sheet music can and if you talk about making your own I have to reference this xkcd xkcd.com/927. Again if you don't want to deal with sheet music that's fine, but please don't just about spreading misinformation about sheet music notation and be respectful of the notation and those who use it. " I don't need solutions from the middle ages thanks." is not constructive and is not respectful.

                                                    – Dom
                                                    11 mins ago





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