Target Audiences for Alternative Notations

First of all, let's clearly identify who is not in the target audience.  As described in the "Great Challenge of Breaking Tradition" page, there is really no point in trying to sell the idea to those who can already read music.  Nor is it for students who have the goal of being academics of music (at any level) or highly advanced or professional musicians.  So who is it for?

The primary target at this time is adults who have never tried to read music, or did try but gave up in frustration.  The chicken and the egg problem is that music teachers themselves are not yet convinced of the value of Alternative Notations, so adults may have to rely on self-instruction.  But these instruction materials are pretty much non-existent.  This is why such an innovative movement is stalled.  However, this could change as described later.  For the moment though, let's refine the target audience.

Another significant target segment is retirees.  Because of those pesky jobs and other commitments, some never had the time to learn to play music even though they wanted to do so.  But in retirement there are fewer time impediments and more time to enjoy music.  And this segment doesn't really have to worry about ever converting to Traditional Notation, unless they really want to try it just for the brain exercise (which is formidable).

There are also those who are not sure whether they really want, or are able, to play music.  If reading sheet music weren't so difficult, then perhaps they could just give it a spin and find out with an easy-to-read Alternative Notation.

People with visual or cognitive disabilities may find they cannot manage to read the complex appearance and mental processing of Traditional Notation.  A simpler approach might be all they need to move forward.

With Traditional Notation, reading sheet music with two staves (treble and bass) requires reading essentially two different notations at the same time (their line definitions are different).  Every Alternative Notation that I have seen fixes this problem; clearly a big plus for keyboard players.  In addition, these players also have to read and play multiple notes at the same time with left and right hands.  Thus, keyboard players have more to benefit with alternatives, yet even readers of "single note" instruments (only one note is played at a time) still benefit from consistent octaves and staves as well as the absence of key signatures.

And finally, I'm going to add music instructors to the list.  Not for their own use (after all they're already in the club), but for the sake of their students.  If less frustration with reading sheet music leads to more enthusiasm about playing an instrument, then why wouldn't they want to use an alternative?  Especially, if they would just give up playing otherwise.  And maybe successful students will continue to take lessons long term, and tell their friends.  So why wouldn't instructors want to attract and retain more students?  

Which players benefit the most from Alternative Notations?

Players of keyboard instruments benefit the most from ANs.  For example, piano players must often read and play multiple notes at the same time across multiple staves.  And there are 88 notes to learn.  Therefore, the discussion on this website usually references the piano keyboard to illustrate a point.

Players of “single note” instruments perhaps benefit less.  This is because the range of tones is somewhat limited and the sheet music notes are on the same staff.  So, reading TN is not as big a challenge as with keyboard instruments.  On the other hand, it may be helpful to read other parts on sheet music for multiple instruments in order to better synchronize with other players.

Some Alternative Notations can simplify reading music for new students of music.  However, even advanced musicians such as performers, musicologists, and composers can also benefit from learning chromatic notations as a “2nd language” since they enable intervals between notes to be more easily visualized and understood.  They may also benefit from graphic rhythm notation to help "decode" complicated passages such as those containing syncopation and multiple voices.

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that the challenges result in many beginning students struggling to read music, and some even give up playing music because of this barrier.  If Alternative Notations can help these students to succeed and stay engaged, perhaps for a lifetime, then that benefits not only them but also music schools and instructors, instrument makers, music publishers, and frankly, everyone that loves playing and listening to music.