Learning to read music IS important!

Sure, it's fun to figure out songs by ear.    It's a gift, not everyone can do it.  

But reading music...…….that's the gift that keeps on giving. 

When I look at music I see a key signature, time signature, I see note values, rhythms.  

What does that mean in a language a non musician can understand?

I see an accent (New England/Southern/Italian) in the key signature.  It tells me which pitches I will most consistently be playing in a piece.  Whether it will sound happy or sad.  Where the 'twang' will come from so to speak. 

The time signature tells me which note equals one beat in a measure, and how many beats are contained in each measure.  Do I need to count 3, 4, 6, 12?

Building strong match skills.  In the photos above I see pitches broken down into rhythms that equal 1.5 beats, 1 beat, 3 beats.  Lengths of notes tied together to make longer notes.  Rests that are worth 1/2 a beat.  Do you realize that addition, subtraction and fractions are all a part of music?

What about deciphering pitches.  Does it matter if the stems go up or down?  What do steps and skips mean?  What's an interval? What's an octave?  What's a harmonic?  Double stop?  The list of terminology and problem solving skills goes ON and ON. 

Music is a language.  Being able to decipher it and apply it to any musical instrument, or even a pot with a spoon is a skill.  Reading Music IS Important.