[Harp-L] Fwd: Reading or playing by ear.

[Bob Cohen]

On Dec 19, 2016, at 2:48 PM, dfwhoot at xxxxx wrote:
> 
> There is probably many who play by reading the score and that's great if you can as long as you play the piece with feelings. To me , that's what sells the song . I have heard strictly reading people who play the harmonica play a piece , and a key change happens and their music score does not show a change and they go ahead and play out of tune and not know it.  

As far as I’m concerned, it’s cool that you have found something that works for you. But I find it puzzling to see someone who is obviously literate, arguing for illiteracy in music. Yes people can and have learned language without learning to read and write but it’s undeniable literacy improves the depths of our understanding and use of language. So too with music. 

You said, “I have heard strictly reading people who play the harmonica play a piece , and a key change happens and their music score does not show a change and they go ahead and play out of tune and not know it “ That’s not fair observation. Why would the band deviate from the charts without warning everyone on the bandstand? People who work from scores expect their band mates to to follow the sheet music. Forcing a musician to unexpectedly transpose on the fly proves nothing other than a miscommunication between the readers and ear players or itillustrates the band’s lack of preparedness and professionalism. You should perform it like you practiced it.


> Now to me , that proves one needs to hear as well as read. To me , the best of best worlds is to first , play by ear . Learn by listening and playing with feelings.

Nothing is further from the truth. Readers generally learn to play their parts of songs much faster and more accurately. Charts free up their energy to work on expression and crafting the sound of the ensemble instead learning their parts. Likewise readers are generally better trained musicians with bigger ears and more knowledge of the craft. I know that’s true in my case. I’m a self-taught ear playing harp player and singer who has educated myself on theory. My daughter is a classically trained bassoonist. The difference in our musicianship is astounding. She passed me by the time she was a freshman in high school, and I’m no slouch as a blues player.

Good on you for finding a way to express yourself musically. But I would be wary of generalizing.

Just my two cents. Happy Holidays.

-Bob