Ya just do what works for you! Everybody's different. When it comes to Music which I am given on a printed page, I memorize it from the page. For Music which I'm given or "find" by hearing-be it on an album or in a live performance, I learn it from hearing it. For lyrics not on printed Music, as opposed to a tune, I sing the words till I know em. On occasion, when the lyrics do not seem to make sense cronologically, I sometimes write them down, then sing them as I read them till I remember. I once tried to learn some session tunes by reading them (as given to me by someone who wrote them out) as I played, but it wasn't working, so I had to get out of the printed Music & just PLAY!