Some vocal schools advertise with phrases like “You don’t need to be able to read music,” in order to attract students. However, you would be mistaken if you think that the fundamentals of music are irrelevant to singing. If you cannot read music, you must have the ability to accurately “copy by ear,” that is, to have exceptional aural skills and be able to reproduce what you hear. Ultimately, having a musical knowledge is essential for singing well.— Jreibun