Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
“Once sheet music is all digital, why not always colour-code notes?” Since most sheet music can now come in digital format, will there be any good reason not to color code the notes all the time? I’ve long advocated using color coding for helping special needs students to learn music from sheet music. However, the opening suggestion (by a person on social media) goes one step further. It proposes making a permanent change to how people read sheet music. Keep reading to find out the arguments for and against adopting color coded music notation for everyone.
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
The Argument for Always Colour-Coding Notes in Digital Sheet Music
“Once sheet music is all digital, why not always colour-code notes?” Evidence from George L. Roger’s study on color coding music notation suggests that this would be a popular move with many people. Why? Because 65% of the people in his study preferred the colored coded notation.
Roger states:
A positive affective influence was noted for the color-coded notation when 65% of all subjects favored the color-coded notation as easier to play… (72)
Therefore, you could make an argument that since people like it better, and it makes the music easier to read, why not adopt it for everyone?
The Argument Against Always Colour-Coding Notes in Digital Sheet Music
“Once sheet music is all digital, why not always colour-code notes?” Musicians who like traditional music notation would likely resist the move, including many music teachers. This means that the likelihood of universal color coded music notation as a widespread trend seems low.
Also, this brings up the question of which color coding scheme to use.
- Color coded music notation hasn’t been standardized. For more information read: Is There a Color Code for Music Notes?
- In fact, if you search online, you’ll find dozens of different color coding systems.
- If they did standardize color coding into one system of colors, who’d get to decide?
- Musicians can’t even decide on whether to call the middle note on the piano C or Do. So, it would be an uphill climb to achieve universal color coded music notation.
However, if these obstacles could be overcome, color coding would raise the general level of music literacy, benefiting all.
Final Thoughts on “Once Sheet Music is All Digital, Why Not Always Colour-Code Notes?”
“Once sheet music is all digital, why not always colour-code notes?” I use color coding as a teaching aid from which system students will eventually graduate to reading an un-adapted score.
- If you want information on the science behind color coding, click here: Color Coding Music for Success
- Having talked to numerous music teachers online, it seems unlikely that a universal color coding system will ever be adopted.
- Nevertheless, many, many more people would likely be able to read music if such a color coding system ever became universal.
It may be a dream to think it could come to pass, but I still think it’s a nice dream to have.
Related Posts:
- How to Color Code Music Notes for LD & Special Needs Distance Learning
- Color Coded Eighth Note Clapping
- How to Color Code Guitar Tab
- Playing the Piano with Color Coded Notes
- Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
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