Music notation is a very good example of this.

I’ve had students who are quite frightened by the notion of attempting to read a score or perform music that’s put in front of them.

I understand the hesitation, transferring the semiotic information from your eyes to your hands is a complex process that takes years to master.

But the process of reading itself is something any musician is capable of doing.

They trick is to find the pulse, then spot patterns, spot rhythms or high and low notes, and all of a sudden you are able to pinpoint particular features.

As musicians learn theory and about the elements they are then eventually able to put all those different jigsaw pieces of information and place it together into a music score.

Start with the details, and work from there. You know more than you think you know.