Do you read music?

I've played with a lot of folks over the years, most of 'em way better players than I. Not surprising since I'm mainly a singer.
And I currently hear a lot of players in shop as they try out equipment.

So it occurred to me to axe y'all if you have been formally schooled in music, or like me, have fumbled along picking up what was needed at the time and building up a musical knowledge bank the hard way... playing in bars!

Mostly self taught, though I did take lessons when I was 8 and 9 with a teacher who thought it was important to be able to read music as well as play!!

My sight reading got very good indeed when I was recording on a serious level, but now, helping my daughter with her music theory for school, I see just how poor my sight reading skills have become!!

I am in awe of piano players....

Only if it's in english
Bahahahaha.
Sorry not not at all unless someone is writing about it

eyebulger wrote:...Sorry not not at all unless someone is writing about it

But Don, did you click on a choice above? I don't see any votes in the last category. It is a poll, eh?

I had formal piano training for 2yrs when I was around 11 or so but never really got into the keyboards that much so I picked up a Bass and a Guitar and never looked back. I do still occasionally fiddle around with the keyboard but enjoy my Bass and guitar far more now. I seldom read music anymore as I mostly play by ear now but it does help to be able to read the notes now and again but it seems now that I am older it takes much longer to read the notes correctly lol.

Took theory in college for two years.

Forgot about all of it.

I tend to just stumble through Guitar Tab now and again.
Like others here, I studied music for 2 years on a college course.....forgot every damn stave! no need see?

I learned how to play the trumpet in 3rd grade and played in the concert band and marching band and the jazz band all throughout my school years!!! Bass clef and piano music screw me up though.

I used to but it was a formal music theory education that seemed to be aimed at the non-musical. I was always having to explain to my fellow students the difference between 5th and a 3rd, minor and major triads. If you don't used it over the years you just lose it.

That said, I am encouraging my grandchildren to study music theory and sight read. My parents were too busy trying to get me to auditions.

I didn't take lessons so it's difficult for me to read music easily

I wouldn't say that I can sight read, but some music theory courses in college and a lot of self-study has made it so I can use it as a guide.  I do, however, only use it as a guide... it's much more fun to "wing it!"

If you learn to separate the rhythmic information from the pitch information, it gets easier to grasp what is going on in a score. I find that the rhythm is much more important to understand.