I can't find a singing forum anywhere on the MPN home page, so I'll post this here and see what happens.
Last year I visited a local barbershop quartet singing club, at the invitation of an old friend and musical collaborator.
It was a fun group of old guys and ladies, and they were very much passionate about singing and performing out and about the town, for special events and parties.
I enjoyed the practices, and I fell right in with the tenors, singing those parts quite naturally and instinctively.
The problem was, the director of the club insisted, understandably, that everyone read the sheet music, and sing their parts precisely as written.
No improvisation, and no making it up as you go.
My shortcoming was that I cannot read sheet music.
I'm a good singer, and I'm really good at falling in and providing beautiful harmonies behind the lead singer (on the songs where someone else in our bands and combos is carrying the lead vocal).
But it's all instinct. It's in my DNA.
It's not taught at school.
My brother and I took up musicianship at an early age, and we were self-taught guitar players, bass player, drummers, and keyboard players.
We both have a knack for picking up a guitar or sitting down at the piano and sussing out the key, chords, and complete songs in very short order.
Never took one note of music lessons or proper band instruction.
We were in a garage band in high school, and we each have performed live in various bar band situations our whole adult life.
So now I get another invitation via email this morning to join an all-new singing club. One based on barbershop, but apparently involving singing other styles of songs as well.
They may or may not need for me to learn sheet music. I don't know yet.
The question for all of you is this;
If you came to learn sheet music later in life (and not in high school or college) what is your experience in that endeavor?
How did it work out, and did you succeed?
I'm 64 right now, and though I have studied it, and I understand full well what the black dots and squiggles on the white page mean, I can't just glance down at the pages and sing those notes. It takes several seconds for my brain to process that that there is B flat, and so that must be C sharp right over here.
And by then, the song is several bars along, leaving me behind.
So.
If you learned it later in life, how did you do?
What can you share?
Thanks in advance!!
🤔