I normally just use sheet music as a guide line to the tune. Id like to learn to read music better though. It always impressed me how some people could just sit down and play a piece of music they'd never heard before.

Fiddlerman said:

I definitely agree. I memorize things very easily. I'm one of those orchestra musicians that reads the first few days then enjoys the next few looking at my colleagues and making music without staring at the parts.

I have a nephew who plays piano is like Fiddlerman, he memorizes all the pieces, he would just play songs after songs… without reading the music.

I on the contrary, have good sight reading unless the key signature is very completed. I usually could play a new piece better at the first sight than after I had practiced with it for a whole week. There are time I'm like Barry –

Barry said:

If its something I know like "somewhere over the rainbow" I usally can start to read the tune but my ear takes over and I can start finding the notes with out the music.

Do you know: One thing about playing Chinese instruments is one does not have to read complicated music:) everything is 1234567

LOL