Dear Anonymous,

The answer of course, as in most of life, is both. As an avid non-reader, I am most familiar with those advantages and dis-advantages.

I think if your goal is to play primarily for your own pleasure, playing by ear is the way to go. It is an approach that allows you to address the song as a whole being and not just the sum of its parts. I suspect you can learn quicker that way, if you have an ear. If you are tone deaf, I think sight-reading is an advantage.

If you want to become the master of your instrument, you will want to learn to read music eventually. I say this, because as you learn to read, you needfully learn music theory, and that is essential to master an instrument. All of this stands aside if you are immensely musically talented. Does Doc Watson read music? I think not. And even if he was sighted, I suspect he would not have taken that course.

Learning to read music helps you to talk to others about the music. If you learned chords, but did not learn their names, it would be more difficult to communicate with others. If you learn their relationships, then you simplify communication even further.

Not reading music does not make you second rate. It is a limitation, but one with which you can live and truly enjoy your music. You can also grow by overcoming it, if you choose to grow in that direction.

Enjoy the music!!

Roger in Baltimore