Should a Songwriter Learn How to Read Music?

To read, or not to read....that is the question.

Short answer….there are definite advantages, but it is not necessary for great songwriting.

What are some of the advantages of knowing how to read music?

I) You learn from what others have done.

You can read the printed music of popular songwriters, Broadway composers, orchestral composers, movie soundtracks, band scores, sheet music, etc.

There is no greater advantage as a songwriter than the ability to analyze other writers' work for learning how to write a song and grow as a musician.

II) There are many jobs that require you to read music notation.

Studio musician, church musician, music director/conductor, college or elementary music teacher, or playing in orchestras, community bands or jazz ensembles....just to name a few.

And these jobs pay money... (and that stuff comes in handy while you grow your song catalog to the point of making you millions.)

III) Learning to read and write lead sheets can be a great tool.

Again this is for you - it has the potential to improve your songwriting, but it is not a requirement.

There are great songwriters that can't read music - but many do.

Bottom line - understanding all you can about music is never a bad idea. Learning to read music can be a huge asset.

Again, it all comes down to communication. It's a helpful tool, but not essential.

So my advice, if you are really pumped up to take your craft to the next level, take the time to learn to read, it will pay off in the long run.

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