Dyslexia/dyscalculia - music theory

[fbloke]

Has anyone encountered dyscalculia as a barrier to learning music by notation or theory?  I've always struggled greatly with maths, sequence and order and have now enrolled in music college and am struggling a bit. A fellow student who is dyslexic noticed me struggling and asked me if I was dyslexic. I replied that I'm not - my reading and writing is actually at a very good level - but as soon as it gets vaguely mathematical or I have to memorise a chord sequence my brain goes all wobbly.  Any experiences that you can share would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

[JJretroTONEGOD]

I'm not dyslexic myself but one of my closest friends is and he struggles greatly with reading musical notation, yet can easily cope with TAB. He has also had problems with grammar and spelling, he's also a full-time guitar tutor so it's not exactly got in his way. I'm not sure if you do have dyslexia myself, have you had the official tests that prove it? if not then it's just your own self diagnosis, it needs to be proven so you can be sure.

[WezV]

I spent 10 years working with kids with learning difficulties

they are separate conditions - which doesn't mean some people don't have both.

but being dyslexic wont automatically mean you struggle with numbers and vice versa

If you are fine with your literacy ability then try to use that to remember chord sequences with mnemonics and things like that.  there are many ways to skin a cat - enough that you can work to your strengths

[WezV]

also worth remembering that just because you struggle to learn something it doesn't mean you are incapable of learning it

[Ian Price]

If you are fine with your literacy ability then try to use that to remember chord sequences with mnemonics and things like that.  there are many ways to skin a cat - enough that you can work to your strengths

That reminds me of a Steve Vai quote. Something along the lines of "I didn't work on my weaknesses. I pushed them to one side and worked on harnessing my strengths"

I'll be honest and say that I have little to no knowledge of dyslexia or dyscalculia so am not sure how useful that sort of approach would be in this instance. It sounds very sensible to me though!

[Nadz1lla]

I'm pi$$ poor at maths, but when it comes to written music I am utterly and completely at a loss. five separate music teachers have tried to teach me how to read sheet music and it just ain't happening!

However, I find guitar tab really simple, but that's basically because it's a "diagram".