Why Learn to Read Music?

The most obvious answer lies in the past when we had no way of making audio or video recordings. The only way to record and pass on your musical ideas was to write it down.

This of course was not the only reason.

To have a visual representation system of sound simply gives us another way to HELP learn and play music. If, say, a drummer or pianist has difficulty coordinating playing two different rhythms at the same time it becomes extremely helpful to SEE the parts. The eye helps in guiding the physical movements.