Why Sight Reading Isn't for Everyone: Dyslexia, Bilateral Coordination, and Alternative Paths to Music

For millions of people with dyslexia and related learning differences, traditional music education presents a frustrating paradox: they may have exceptional musical ears and deep emotional connection to music, yet struggle immensely with reading sheet music—especially when trying to coordinate both hands.

This isn't a failure of effort or intelligence. It's neurology.

The Hidden Challenge: Reading Two Staffs at Once

Piano and keyboard music is typically written on two staves—treble clef for the right hand, bass clef for the left. For neurotypical learners, this is challenging enough. For those with dyslexia, it can feel nearly impossible.

Research on Bimanual Coordination

A study published in Neuropsychologia examined motor coordination in dyslexic adults and found:

"When compared to control subjects, dyslexics showed a consistent pattern of deficits in bimanual motor coordination... In particular, dyslexics had greater difficulty when the hands had to make opposite (mirror-image) movements, suggesting problems with interhemispheric modulation of visuomotor control."

This has direct implications for piano playing, where hands frequently move in contrary motion.

The "Both Hands Together" Problem

Educators working with dyslexic students consistently observe what one researcher described:

"She was able to learn where the symbols of the notes on a specific line of music were on the piano but she had problems with playing two hands at the same time."

This isn't laziness or lack of practice—it reflects genuine neurological differences in how the brain coordinates bilateral activities.

The Neuroscience: Why Reading Music Is Extra Hard

Visual Processing Differences

Dyslexia fundamentally involves differences in how the brain processes visual symbols. Research published in PMC on reading difficulties explains:

"Reading requires the eyes to move smoothly from left to right across a page, which involves coordinating both hemispheres of the brain. If a child struggles with bilateral integration and midline crossing, they may have difficulty with visual tracking, leading to problems with reading fluency."

Music notation adds additional challenges:

• Vertical reading (pitch) simultaneous with horizontal reading (rhythm)
• Two different clefs with different note positions
• Dense symbol clusters (chords, accidentals, dynamics)
• No spaces between "words" like text has

The Cerebellar Connection

Research has increasingly linked dyslexia to cerebellar function:

"Children with dyslexia have difficulties with handwriting and two-handed coordination, and abnormal cerebellar activity has been reported in these children when doing these tasks."

The cerebellum, traditionally associated with motor control, plays a crucial role in the automaticity of reading—both text and music.

The Concept of "Musical Dyslexia"

In 2000, pediatric neurologist Neil Gordon proposed the concept of "musical dyslexia" (dysmusia):

"Based on growing evidence that the areas of the brain involved in reading music and text differed, Gordon suggested some individuals might have specific difficulty reading music notation while reading text normally—or vice versa."

While no conclusive cases have been documented, the theory aligns with observations of musicians who:

• Read text fluently but struggle with music notation
• Have excellent ears but can't decode written music
• Play beautifully by ear but freeze when reading

Famous Musicians Who Couldn't/Can't Read Music

You're in excellent company if sheet music isn't your thing:

• The Beatles (except Paul, minimally)
• Jimi Hendrix
• Eric Clapton
• Stevie Wonder
• Elvis Presley
• Michael Jackson
• Hans Zimmer (film composer!)
• Danny Elfman (film composer!)

These artists succeeded not despite avoiding notation, but often because they developed extraordinary ears and intuitive musical understanding.

Alternative Paths to Musical Mastery

1. Ear-Based Learning

Research consistently shows that aural learning develops superior musical skills:

"Among the five skills of improvising, performing rehearsed music, playing by ear, playing from memory, and sight-reading, playing by ear was the only one that contributed to the other four skills."

For dyslexic learners, this isn't just an alternative—it may be the optimal path.

2. Color-Coded and Visual Systems

Some systems use colors, shapes, or spatial patterns instead of traditional notation:

• Colored note heads
• Piano roll visualization (like DAW software)
• Simplified tab systems

3. Technology-Assisted Learning

Modern apps can:

• Play audio examples instantly
• Slow down recordings without pitch change
• Provide visual feedback on pitch accuracy
• Gamify learning to maintain engagement

4. Chord-Based Approaches

Learning chords and progressions by ear rather than reading individual notes:

• Play songs faster with fewer symbols to decode
• Develops harmonic understanding
• Common in jazz, pop, and contemporary music

The Research: Music Training Actually Helps Dyslexia

Here's something remarkable—while reading music may be challenging for dyslexic individuals, music training itself can improve reading difficulties:

"The musician's brain is ideally suited to study brain changes induced by intensive training... suggested for the rehabilitation of dyslexia. Some white matter subcortical tracts are particularly sensitive to learning to play a musical instrument or singing."

A study in Frontiers in Psychology found:

"These results suggest that early practice of hand-eye coordination activities reduces the risk for reading difficulties."

The key is finding the right approach—one that leverages strengths (aural processing, pattern recognition) rather than fighting against neurological differences.

Practical Recommendations

For Dyslexic Learners:

1. Start with ear training, not notation - Build your musical ear first
2. Learn songs you love by listening - Motivation matters enormously
3. Use technology - Apps, YouTube tutorials at 0.5x speed, loop sections
4. Consider one-hand instruments first - Melodica, single-line instruments build confidence
5. Find a teacher who understands - Not all teachers know how to adapt

For Parents and Educators:

1. Don't assume reading notation is required - Many successful musicians don't read
2. Observe and adapt - If a child has great ears but struggles with notation, lean into the strength
3. Reduce bilateral demands initially - Master hands separately before combining
4. Celebrate aural achievements - Playing by ear IS a legitimate skill

The Bottom Line

Traditional sight reading assumes a neurotypical brain. For the estimated 15-20% of the population with dyslexia or related learning differences, this approach can turn music—which should be joyful—into a source of frustration and shame.

But there's another way.

The greatest musicians in history learned primarily by ear. Modern technology makes ear-based learning more accessible than ever. And research shows that developing your ear may actually be superior to notation-based learning for overall musicianship.

If you or your child struggles with sight reading, you're not broken. You might just need a different path—one that works with your brain, not against it.

References

1. Bimanual coordination in dyslexic adults - ScienceDirect/Neuropsychologia
2. Shared motor skill impairments in dyslexia - PMC Research
3. The Role of Fine Motor Abilities in Reading Components - PMC Study
4. How the brain reads music: evidence for musical dyslexia - The Conversation
5. Music and Dyslexia: A New Musical Training Method - Frontiers in Psychology
6. The enigma of dyslexic musicians - ScienceDirect
7. Dyslexia Research Trust - Coordination in Poor Readers
8. British Dyslexia Association - Music and Dyslexia
9. University of Michigan - Research on Professional Musicians and Dyslexia
10. Movement, Neurobiology and Functional Deficits in Dyslexia - PMC Scoping Review