Read Music on Screens versus Print
It’s a common theme in comic strips that the younger generation has forgotten how to use physical books. It’s funny to see technology users laughing at it, thinking it’s old people who are doing it because they don’t understand how the technology works. This future is not so far away, with the growth of e books. Digital communication, reading, and writing are all done digitally. A whole genre of music is based on using technology. How long will it be before our entire art becomes technology-based? Will musicians use only technology to read and write music? Let’s delve deeper.
Every reader has their own reading style. Others like noisy, busy environments. Some prefer silence. Some people like large print. Some people like mystery. Some people don’t like e-books. Physical books are preferred by those who believe there is less distraction. There’s no notification that says someone liked the photo you uploaded. Your boss doesn’t text you. A book is a simple book. It is easier to annotate and take notes on a book when you are reading for understanding and learning. You don’t need to move between tabs and windows when you notetake digitally. The nostalgia associated with physical books is also a factor. Have you smelled books? Have you heard the sound as pages turn? Some people are drawn to those experiences.
Some people, however, prefer to screen-read. The rise of reading devices (ex. Kindle allows people to store a large library in a small device. Read anything anywhere and anytime. Multi-tasking is possible depending on your eReader. Some eReaders come with a built-in dictionary, so that you can highlight any word you’re not familiar with and get its definition.
Some people use technology exclusively to write. Some people still prefer the handwritten method. Each has its own pros.
It’s easier to use a keyboard for those who have disabilities. It’s also much easier to delete: instead of erasing pencil or cross-out pen, you simply tap a button. No illegibility. Typing is not for chicken scratch. Spell- and grammar-checking are possible when typing. This is useful for writing that requires individualized support.
There are also benefits to handwriting. Handwriting can be personalized. Handwritten letters always create a feeling of gratitude. This is more powerful than emailing or typing a letter. Handwritten signatures can be used as binding agreements because each person’s handwriting differs. Handwriting can also help you remember what you wrote.
My writing has been converted to technology. However, I believe I have developed a unique style. I enjoy researching my subject before writing. After that, I switch on the talk-to type and explain the subject of each paragraph. I use my words. Sometimes, I even swear. It feels good to get my thoughts down on paper and typed in the correct paragraph format. Then I add the citations and revise my paper. I change informal words to more appropriate ones. This keeps my paper in the words I use and eliminates any latency between thinking and typing (or writing). It keeps up with my brain’s pace, and doesn’t wait for me to finish a word. It is especially useful because my hands are achy and I can type and speak more easily.
Georgetown University Medical Center has found evidence that the language and music parts of the human brain are identical. The temporal-lobes are responsible for memorizing words and music. The brain registers an out-of tune note the same as a illogical term. ScienceDaily gave the example “[I] will have my coffee with concrete and milk” (ScienceDaily).
Now we can see that the brain does treat it like any other language. As we speak and read the music, parts of the brain that control reading and speech light up. Our brains translate improvising as a form of group jazz music. The brain processes what the other played, then comes up with a complement (Mannes). Why not include reading and writing in the conversation?
My colleagues were surprised that they had never thought about using an E-reader to read music. I did not have any personal experience, so I asked the IUP Music Technology Tuba/Euphonium prof, who is a frequent iPad reader. ForScore, his reading program, is what he uses to avoid distractions. He admits that he’s sometimes distracted because the distractions are so close. He added that screen reading was not for everyone. We use our devices for a variety of tasks. We can easily switch between pictures, links and ads. The note-taking process is made easier by the fact that “you can control color, size, and transparency of the PDF.” ForScore has “stickers” that include clefs and accidentals. They can be resized, and any color can be pasted on them.” (Wehnau Collins). Collins, however, does not always read on the screen. He also said he only used an eReader while traveling or playing outdoors.
On paper, I have a lot of experience. Facebook, twitter, etc. are not available to you on paper. available at your fingertips. The use of an eReader can help you avoid this problem. Collins mentioned that paper can be blown away when you are playing outside. One piece of paper that falls out of a file folder is more likely to be missed than a lost e-reader. Paper can also have the disadvantage of destroying original sheet music. This is especially true for popular or historical sheet music. If it is not converted into PDF, then it will never be found again. Even music sold as PDFs can be worn down after it has been well loved and played.
IUP’s Dr. David Martynuik is a very good teacher of composition. He said that writing music on notation software allows for experimentation. You can experiment with chords by using the playback feature. On paper, writing is “…more textbook-like and involves only one or two voices (Wehnau, Snively). In one case study, where a child received a software for notation, the “…musically-untrained [child] showed on numerous occasions that they could imagine and externalise sounds accurately with pitch and rhythm” (Jennings). Software can help someone with no music training to create and understand music differently. Digital composing is more accessible.
The conflict is too complex to be resolved by a single essay. Both physical and electronic books, as well sheet music and software for notation, have their purpose and place. You need to be able to make the most of these powerful tools. The debate is not over, but this article provides some insight to help others decide what’s best for them.
