GUEST, I'm with MMario on this one... I can pick out a melody line from the staff onto a keyboard, or more easily onto guitar.. (if there aren't too many shrps or flats).

But I don't now have the patience to invest the time on learning to do it "properly".

I can use notation software to output stuff that's readable as music, and can use it to document things I have composed.

I know that there are many many great musicians who transcend what's "written" to enhance and improvise it.. But I have also met many technically competent musicians who were stumped unless they had "the dots" in front of them.

When it comes to folk music, at least 50% of it is in the interpretation and despite people's efforts at boxing the genre in, there is (In My Not-So_Humble Opinion) no truly "right" and "wrong " way to play it.

In addition, the primary sources for much of the music we discuss here is aural - either from recordings or live performance, so looking for the written music can be futile - sometimes the performer may never have written the music down in a formal fashion. I know several really good songwriters who'd be incapable of doing so. That inability does not diminish their talent.

I have often used "the dots" when I was unsure of how much a performer had ornamented the original melody, - but what I want is that melody. If I want it, I'll take it from there and work it up..

So what's my point? Umm, I suppose I don't appreciate the feeling that I'm being "looked down on" for declining to learn to read music properly. Does everyone who wants to use a computer learn how to program? Err.. no. Does that stop them from being able to use a PC - No. I think the analogy applies to music too.. I would say that my nderstanding of musical theory has been enhanced by using software like NoteWorthy, and I am immensely grateful that it's there.

Cheers

Steven