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The Neum SystemWritten musical notation dates back to at least 2,000 BCE. It evolved as a means of sharing written music with others who could then play the music on their own so long as the musician knew how to read the notes. Initially, musical notation consisted of various marks written in left to right succession, each higher or lower than the last to indicate pitch. The Arab region, Greece and Europe each developed similar but separate means of written notation.
In Europe, musical notation was popular because it provided a way for churchgoers to comprehend and vocalize a sacred message. Early European music was generally sacred, though secular songs such as folk tunes did exist primarily in oral tradition (not written down--simply passed on from person to person learning the song by ear).
The neum system offered musicians both a pitch differentiation (showing how high or low to sing or play) as well as a rhythmic differentiation (instructing how long one should hold a note before proceeding to the next).
Our present notation system came to fruition in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. More rules applied, making the music more systematic and also easier for a group of musicians to read at once. -
The key of CIn modern times, reading music is a more common ability than it was in the past. Musical notation is still employed in religious institutions, allowing choirs, instrumentalists and religious congregations to sing and play together. Musicians can read different parts in the music (for example, a four-part vocal composition) to sing in harmony as intended by the composer.
Ultimately, the purpose of reading music is to learn and/or perform a song while noting specifically intended markings from the original composer. That said, musicians are free to their own interpretations in many circumstances. -
G clef and C chord triad.Reading music is very helpful for most musicians, even those who generally learn more quickly by ear (just listening to the music and repeating). Knowing music allows a musician in a group to point out a specific part of a given piece very quickly by referencing the specific point of discussion. Reading music also allows a musician to pick up on subtleties in the written piece that may not be evident in other musicians' performances.
Music is also a method of communication; many musicians who can read music also have the ability to compose music and write it down. This allows them to share it with others. - Various marks convey the composer's original intent and feeling as specifically as possible, though it is typically the duty of the conductor to round out the emotion and flourish of any given piece. Reading music, musicians follow marks indicating dynamics (progressions in volume), tempo (progressions in speed), key and rhythm.
- Some students, hobbyists and professional musicians believe that reading music is an ability of little value because they are adept at learning on their own or repeating things from the radio. However, even professional musicians can learn a great deal from written music. Paul McCartney, for example, learned most of what he knows about reading music long after he created what many regard as timeless musical masterpieces. Since his involvement in The Beatles and various solo projects, McCartney has gone on to espouse the value in traditional music theory and reading music, and has utilized his own skills in various classical-style compositions.
