Yes, just like literacy should be required for reading and writing.
Reading music is quite simple.
A few lines of notes, some counting.
Unless you're doing Stravinsky or Zappa you should be fine.

 

These notation systems don't illustrate the frame of mind and mental processes of composer during songwriting. Surface of music (like cell membrane) is what you see and pick up during the reading. A more advanced system of notation is needed to deeply show every moment of composer's thinking and reasoning (inside the cells and their cores).

 

Is should reading anything be required in any educational theorizing enemaizing of requestered sequestraitional transmuting of congenial ideaolguing of transmited sophicaltation doctoration.

 

We live in a different time and age now.
Sheet music is a technology to accomplish something very specific.
Of course it should be required.
( it isn't difficult)
The bigger issue is the incomplete education about harmony.

 

That's what the notes for moods and phrasing above and below the staff is for.. The 'frame of mind' and 'mental processes' of a composer have no business being in sheet music, its a finished piece of performance work, not a musical documentary.

 

If someone says that they can write a story, wouldn't most people automatically assume they can read the story they have written as well?

What is so difficult to understand that music, while different contains a similar principle. Sure, a person can compose or write a tune with very little theoretical knowledge, no sight-reading music skills and no educated harmony, Now that is said, if that same person wants to write for several horns, a Big Band or an Orchestra, they will have to pay someone to do it or guess, based on it sounding good enough for them, never knowing what it is they are doing.

Some people can happily live in the above same inner circle of limitations. Most creative people want to expand their harmony, theory, sight-reading, ear training, performing, interaction, understanding of volume and intensity dynamics, counterpoint, different voicings, voice-leading, how different instruments interact when combined or separated and... way too much to list. Living in a bubble of not knowing because someone chose not to learn an integral part of music, will limit their ability to grow past a certain point.

 

Problem is that music notation finds it very difficult to capture the characteristics of modern music, for the past 60 years or so anyway. This is particularly true with respect to timing. There isn't really a way of writing swing rhythms. (Dotted notes are a partial solution but if played exactly, they overdo the swing, writing 75%-25% where something like 60%-40% may be needed. Triplets are closer but messy if you have to tie two together.)

And syncopation is again very difficult to write down exactly. Of course singers and guitarists do this without thinking.

Also, as a bass player I'm constantly aware that the gaps between the notes are very important; again there are only limited ways of writing this.

Pitch is only okay if you keep to 12-TET, and again singers and guitarists can easily depart from this.

So yes, some knowledge of music notation is invaluable but it can create more problems than it solves.

 

contract law would be more helpful... also understanding the difference between sharks and lawyers.

sheet music was the only solution when the technology didn't exist, now I think everyone should learn to read Midi...

seriously if you are playing in an orchestra or chamber piece, its the only way to know when to play and what to play so you don't step all over each other. If you're composing I think you would be better off simply recording your pieces and letting someone else (or software) transpose it to into charts for the players.

Keith Emerson used to write his compostions on sheet music (piano pieces) I have no idea how he kept track of which patch cord went where and when it was supposed to go where when playing his Moog. I'm certain sheet music offers no advantages in such a a situation.

Plus there is no symbol in sheet music for when you stick your knife into the organ and begin madly rocking it til it falls over, so there are lots of areas lacking in sheet music for live perfomance...

 

A lot of avant garde scores have pretty extensive written instructions... providing bales of hay for pianos and how to proceed if the piano does or does not eat the hay, using your wind instruments percussively and the like.

 

yes, but the devil is in the details, like metric or imperial bales? fer instance...

 

Yes, it should be taught. Like it's been said, it's not difficult, and when you're a gigging musician, there's no easier way into lots of songs in little time. However, TBH, it's usually just C charts with all the syntax of classic notation (codas, endings, D.S., D.C, repeats, etc.) what you see most of the time (at least in my experience).

 

As always - when something takes 45 minutes to acquire a rudimentary understanding of and the video debating the pros and cons of learning those basics is 17 minutes long, skip the video and start learning. Even if you decide to drop it, knowing those basics has immeasurably more value than you will ever derive from knowing some YouTuber's opinion on it.