Stacy. I liked the lines from the song, couldn't agree more with those sentiments. It made me think though, we do expect children to be able to talk before we expect them to read (and write). I think with music especially in England, we have expected our children to be able to read and write music before they can talk(play) it. The Victorian collectors transcibed our folk music for the piano, to be played politely in front rooms and we came to view any other form of music as not quite respectable. It was almost mandatory for the young ladies of the family to struggle with learning the piano and notation. An attitude responsible, I'm sure for turning some people off music for ever. Judging by the wonderful and free playing young musicians I see at sessions here, I think we must be doing it differently now, thank goodness. The point is that music exists, for a moment, in the air, not on the page. Notation is a way of recording the notes played and not the music itself. I would agree with Chet, learn the music first.