I started out to learn to read music many years ago. Chords & Melody just to be able to play well known tunes. The interest increased and became an obsession to the point of wanting to know why chords need certain note to form the chord (theory). I now find a great pleasure from reading music and playing.
I wish I could have learnt to play by ear because the benefit would be that it would easier to improvise which at present I find hard to do.

Graham UK