Walz Guitar - On teaching reading notes and guitar

When I get a new student the question of why do I teach reading notes comes up. Well, as a teacher, I have a boilerplate response that works here too. 'You don't know the future and knowing how to read notes for guitar will only make you better.' Or something to that effect...

But, a better way to phrase all that is using myself as an example. I learned to read music at an early age. Nothing real complicated, but notes and time signatures. The first note I learned on guitar was A, (Thanks bro!) Through slumps in playing, being in band, going through a metal phase (it was the late 80's and that's not a negative comment), a punk phase, and an electronic/dj phase, there was a huge spectrum of styles and influences and msic knowledge. That's not to impress anyone, just providing some background. Here's the point.

When I got serious again about music, all that knowledge came back. If I didn't know how to read music, I probably wouldn't be giving lessons, having this site, etc., etc., etc. If you'd have asked me 15 years ago if I'd be one of those people with long fingernails pluckin' nylon, I'd have laughed and made some sort of immature mom joke. Yeah, you can make a mom joke fit nearly any situation. But, if it worked for me...you know how to finish it...