Can you read music?

[Roscoe East]

Yep.

...although, to be honest, I was a much better reader ~10 years ago when I was reading on the bandstand every night than I am now where I only need to sightread a chart maybe once or twice a month. Use It Or Lose It!

 

[garak7]

Yep.

...although, to be honest, I was a much better reader ~10 years ago when I was reading on the bandstand every night than I am now where I only need to sightread a chart maybe once or twice a month. Use It Or Lose It!

I'm pretty much in the same boat. I don't use it much anymore, so the last time I took out a chart to read, there was plenty of rust. However, it was clear that if I were to do it everyday, I could get fluent again. My sight reading never was stellar compared to some of my fellow students or colleagues, but I got by.

It is a challenge if you are an adult who decided to take it upon him/herself to learn to read for the first time, but well worth it, IMHO.

 

[bigboy_78]

Yes. Everyone should make every effort to be able read & write in their chosen language in order to communicate with others who speak the language.

 

[bassinplace]

Yes. Everyone should make every effort to be able read & write in their chosen language in order to communicate with others who speak the language.

Agreed. A big part of me really wants to be able to do this. I seem to be lacking the discipline as of yet to start cracking the books, though.

 

[kleinenenten]

No, but it's a goal of mine eventually. I've tried to teach myself theory as well, but never have chunks of time to devote to it. Got some basics, but that's about it. One day...

 

[Fergie Fulton]

Yep.

...although, to be honest, I was a much better reader ~10 years ago when I was reading on the bandstand every night than I am now where I only need to sightread a chart maybe once or twice a month. Use It Or Lose It!

Yes have to agree and reinforce the idea to younger/new players it is a skill you develop and it has many levels, including it lessens if you do not practice it, or use it regular.
From my point of view as a player of over 40years experience, it is the prevalence of heavy syncopation in the last 20 odd years that is the main difference i see in charts, 8th and 16th dotted and rest bars were not standard fair when i started, but now are common place.

Like your book reading skills its about concentration and following the plot, but un-like book reading skills there is the added pressure of tempo.....that is what i would say is the pinnacle of sight reading, to read and play with minimal fuss what is put in front of you...not necessarily understand it, but play it.
In the same way a newsreader reads their autoque and presents info they may not understand, the job is about representation of the facts, sight reading on the fly is representing the notes.

 

[davidhilton]

I'm amazed that we have 90% music readers... Reading TB gives me the impression tab is all the rage.

I know huh....

 

[davidhilton]

Since 1975. In looking at the poll results so far (with a moderate sample size), I get the sense that more folks that can read are voting than those who cannot. I doubt the actual percentage of members here that can read is ~90% (poll is currently at 89.06%), with n = 64.

Then again, what does "can you read music really mean?" There's a big difference between reading the bass part for a simple rock tune and reading and playing a Zappa bass chart or a Beethoven symphony part. So, "yes" contains shades of grey.

If you really "read" then you know the difference...

 

[davidhilton]

Agreed. A big part of me really wants to be able to do this. I seem to be lacking the discipline as of yet to start cracking the books, though.

IMO, Its a lot easier if you learned to read as a kid.

 

[The Rage]

Yep.

...although, to be honest, I was a much better reader ~10 years ago... Use It Or Lose It!

Right.
10 years ago I was playing piano. Now I can read treble and bass clef, but at that time i was trying to read also in other clefs like contralto, soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone...
"Use it or lose it" it's sadly true...

 

[Sam Evans]

Learned to read treble clef while learning saxophone; bass clef while learning bass (natch). Both are very helpful now that I'm learning piano.

 

[SasquatchDude]

Yup. Classical piano training paid off.

 

[onosson]

Yes, poorly.

 

[Batmensch]

Barely.

 

[phatcyclist]

Bass, tenor, and treble from playing cello. I would say that my bass clef is solid, but I'd need practice for the other two. For bass/guitar stuff I read tabliture.

 

[fdeck]

Fluent sight reader here.

 

[chuck3]

Yes, but not as fluently as I wish.

I assume we're referring to music on staffs (staves?). I can read chord charts realbook-style at tempo, but that's different.

 

[tbplayer2]

I cannot. 7 years ago, I took up bass as a hobby... I needed a way to relax. My wife made me promise to take lessons, but NOT learn to read music for fear I'd take it too serious, and not relax and have fun. She was right (as usual). I now play with 2 bands a couple weekends each month, and having a blast! I would like to learn though...

 

[FretlessMainly]

If you really "read" then you know the difference...

Well, I know that, but I don't get the sense that everyone who has responded has the same threshold as to what "reading" means. Hence the 90% rate, which is actually now down to ~81%, which still seems high. Non-representative sample; my guess is that more folks who do read well would be inclined to respond in the affirmative, while many who do not may not even visit the General Instruction forum.

 

[RandomBox]

No, but I plan on learning it to join jazz band at school next year.