GuitarMikeB wrote:Sight reading, IMO, is a totally different thing from playing ability. There are people who can look at sheet music and play it exactly as written instantly - and yet put no feeling or anything of themselves into it - at what level do you consider these people?
Very true. Sight reading is a lost art, but isn't indicative of playing ability. At the same time, the ability to read music saves a lot of time; given a chart, score or lead sheet, those at the upper levels of the heirarchy can readily fall in w/ total strangers and play...whatever. But whether it
works is a whole 'nother matter. If you can't read music at all, it significantly limits your viability w/ other musicians.
I used to sight read--not so much anymore--but still ask for something written before I sit in w/ anyone, and always do likewise. I'm just a clubber--a moderate (by my def.) who will likely never rise above that level--and I don't have the musical recall of someone like, say, Bob Dylan. See music, play music. Most of the folks I've worked w/ (also mostly moderates) are the same way. I always put my own spin on whatever I'm given, but I need something to show me where it's going (key, time sig., etc.). When someone gives me some recordings and says 'do that,' I gotta burn time picking it out; my ear isn't as good as, say, an expert or advanced player. If I can see it, in the time it takes me to have a smoke, I can play it.
Mordgeld wrote:Anecdotally speaking, many of the people from Bandmix that I have auditioned have, seemingly, horribly overrated themselves.
True again. There seems to be something akin to 'grade inflation' going on here. Clips and vids can help; if you don't have either, I'm skeptical and less inclined to drag my rig somewheres to find out just what you can do. Likewise if you can't read music. Setting the proper expectation is always a good thing.
Mordgeld wrote:If I'm just a beginner or intermediate, do we need a new category for those people that can't handle what I'm asking them to do? What would you even call it?
"Poser."