[Harp-L] To read, or not to read, that is the question.

[Trip Henderson]

I am a folk musician, I learn using the "folk process" which is to say
learning a tune or song by ear from a source, be it human or a recording.
This has served me well over the years simply because all the music I want
to play has been passed on from generation to generation or was written and
taught to me by its author. I'm as busy as I want to be teaching, recording
or gigging and have never been asked to read - but that's because the
leader or producer hire me to play what I do well - southern and/or
northern vernacular music.

That said, do I wish I could read? Yes, absolutely!  Here's a great
example.  There's a song in the Doc Watson Songbook that he never recorded,
the only way for me to learn the melody is to have a friend that reads play
it for me so I can learn it by ear. If your tastes are more sophisticated
and you want to play jazz etc, or aspire to be a session player then you
must read, its really not optional. If you have the time and inclination,
why not?


-- 
*Trip Henderson*
https://soundcloud.com/trip-henderson
https://www.youtube.com/TheWhistlingWolves