Highbrow Musicianship

One of the easiest ways for a musician to look down on another musician is to ask if they read music.  It is the ultimate litmus test that divides musicians into two categories, and the funny part is the categories aren't even good and bad.  They are "can read music" and "can't read music."

For me, I read music, I make sure to teach students to read music, I encourage every musician to learn to read music, and read it better.  Proficiency in sight-reading is a bonus, but not totally necessary (even though once you can read, why not read quickly).

The amazing thing is, this idea of, "do you read?" transfers over to faith very easily, and not just that, the excuses for not are almost the same.  If you ask a musician who can't read music, and has no interest in reading music, why they don't, you'll get a litany of answers, they often sound like this: "I don't need to read music to play it."  "I can feel it, why do I need to be told what to play."  "So and so didn't read music." and my personal favorite "you're just jealous that I don't need to have my music written down to play it."

While I don't know of many Christians who would disagree with the idea that you need to read the Word, I know of more than a lot who would argue that you don't need to understand your faith.  The go-to verse?  Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (NASB).  This is a great definition of faith, but it doesn't say have faith and know nothing.  Peter, the same guy who wrote this, wrote that to your faith you should add knowledge (and other things, but these are the base for all the others).  Why would he say that if we don't need to understand even a little theology, if we "can feel God's presence, so why do I need to know theology?" "don't have to prove faith, that defeats the purpose." and the one that gets me going "I don't need to prove what I believe, to believe it."

The odd part is, reading music isn't about not having the ability to play on your own creativity, and having knowledge of your faith isn't about lacking trust in God.  These both have everything to do with gaining a better appreciation for what you have.  As a musician, I read a potion of a score and see amazing interlocking rhythms, call and response passages, harmonies and counter melodies.  If I couldn't read I might never know just how intricate and intertwined a piece really is.

As a Christian, who knows some theology, I can see the interlocking ideas, the cohesive structure of God's Word, the web of supporting commands and teachings, the foreshadowing and the internal references.  I gain a better appreciation for just how amazing God and His Word are.  Really, it makes my faith even greater, because I can grasp the tiniest bit more of how amazing God really is.  

Moral of the story, learn to read music, learn theology, you will be amazed at what see, when you understand what you are looking at.

Always groove responsibly