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Old 08-16-2019, 08:55 AM   #55
drtedtan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brainwreck View Post
Obviously, some people disagree that reading standard notation is easy. It is very logical, but so is binary.
It's no different than learning to read and write a language. It isn't easy at first, but after a bit of exposure, we are soon writing complex thoughts without thinking of the individual letters, or even words, but typing out the thoughts themselves.

Reading standard notation is no different. After a bit of exposure, it is common to read chords as chords rather than individual notes, read several bars ahead of where you are currently playing looking for any difficult spots, etc. It's not easy at first, but it becomes so after a bit of practice.


Quote:
Originally Posted by superblonde.org View Post
it is mediocre to read, especially if _hand written_

it is very difficult to verbalize: "yeah then it goes to the (x chord) and the melody goes to the (x).."

it is time consuming to write: too many letters and superscripts.

it is difficult to write: it barely fits within printed measures.

it is ambiguous in written analysis: "this could be (x chord) or it could also be thought of as the (x chord).."


don't fool yourself into believing it is a good system unless the metric for 'good' is set really low.
None of the above criticisms are accurate for those who have a little experience with standard notation; they only cause issue for those initially learning to read standard notation. The only advantage you'll gain from an alternate system is finding one that is easier to learn initially. But after that initial leaning, the new system will be cumbersome in comparison to what we currently have.


Quote:
Originally Posted by superblonde.org View Post
this brings up the point that there are already two competing versions of music notation already, with drastically different understandings, and players find it difficult to transition between the two. (classical player will get confused by jazz chart and vice versa). This is because the current system is broken and does not cover the two stylistic variants as a unified whole.
This is not true. The only difference between the two is that jazz is based on improvisation, so there are no written parts transcribed beyond the basic melody and chords; nothing more is required in that context.
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