gypsy ---and how many more decades do I need to practice? I have been trying to learn to comprehend written music for almost 40 years. I got passing grades in my music classes because we never had to sight read an unknown score. (and I can compare what I know by ear to a written score) but I STILL cannot tell what a note *is* when sung, nor what a note on paper should sound like. I can follow a score once I already know it, but hand me an untitled sheet without words and I haven't a clue. Give me an alternate tune with words I know and I can tell it isn't the tune I do know, but couldn't begin to tell you what the *new* one sounds like....