by audiogirl » Sat Mar 03, 2001 9:32 pm
I've noticed that quite a few of our active "posters" play an instrument. I took piano for a few years as a child, and recently stayed with the guitar for about a year. (Some of us are, putting it nicely, guitar-challenged.) Anyway, my point, and I do have one, is that my instructor, a Van Halen and Led Zeppelin guy who played the classics on the sly, taught with written music. When he had an extended hospital stay, I was referred to a different teacher at the same establishment who insisted that he could teach me to play by ear, and that I would be much better off this way. I thought he was an arrogant windbag. My question is:<P>Which is better, learning to read notes, or to play by ear? I know what I think most of you will say, but I would like your two cents or more if you have it. Is there merit in both methods, pros, cons, etc.<BR>Thanks for sticking around to read this.