The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #132175 Message #2990781
Posted By: McGrath of Harlow
21-Sep-10 - 08:21 AM
Thread Name: Play by Ear V Play from written music?
Subject: RE: Play by Ear V Play from written music?
"But a musician who has to be reading the notes in order to function is in the same position as a singer who has to be reading the words - no matter how well they play or sing, they don't really know the music or the song. "
Anyone who believe this has never seen the best professionals work.
You misunderstand me, Foolestroupe. I think you take it that I was suggesting that an ability to read music necessarily diminishes the ability to play without written music. That would be very stupid of me, but it's not what I was saying.
I'd question whether the best professionals do in fact need to be reading the notes in front of them in order to function. As has been pointed out, playing by heart is perhaps a more useful term than playing by ear. Surely that's what we all aim to be able to do, whether we can read music or not.