I learned to read music before I learned to read script.
I could read music before I could read words.
I could read music before I could read.
I don't read music. I don't write or read music.
I don't read music, which is a shame, actually, and I shouldn't even speak of it because it's embarrassing, but it's true.
I was a bad student. My teachers gave up trying to teach me how to read music.
I can't sight-read classical etudes - I would have to see it and learn it. But yeah, I can read. It is a wonderful tool. It's like speaking another language. Anyone that says reading music can hurt your playing is either stupid, lazy, or ignorant.
All of my music teachers gave up on me one by one because I couldn't read music.