3 ms·

Totally agree. I additionally always say "any butthead can learn to read" but the deep listening skills developed at a young age are much harder to acquire as t

• analog31 3y ago
  While true at some level, the challenge of learning to read as one gets older is frustrated by just having more distractions, plus already knowing how to play. A person who is already a good musician, has to be willing to take a big step backwards while they come up to speed on reading. Also, there are degrees of reading skill, and a need for maintenance. I'm an amateur jazz bassist, but started on classical music and then maintained my reading chops by gravitating to gigs that require it, including the large ensemble that I've played with for 14 years. At this point, I'm a better reader than some of the degreed professional bassists who are better musicians overall but have let their reading chops atrophy. I get calls for gigs because of it. Being a better reader can involve being quicker at it, dealing with more complex material, or letting it occupy less of your attention so you can focus on other aspects of musicianship.