I'm a jazz musician, though I started on classical music. Reading was central to how I was taught to play. Today, I use my reading chops on the bandstand, though I'm also good at picking things up by ear. Most classical students learn very little theory unless they study music in college, which I didn't.

I would say that learning by ear is the other best way to imitate.

One problem with traditional teaching is that it results in a great deal of attrition. In fact, most students give up in frustration. Also, if they choose to take up music on their own, it tends to be at an age where they've had their fill of school, and any kind of formal training is a turn-off. Genres such as folk and rock, and instruments such as the guitar and electric bass, lend themselves to informal self-training and learning material by ear.

Also, if reading isn't used, then writing isn't used. There's a huge written literature for classical music, but virtually none for contemporary popular music. There's a primitive tabulature system, but it doesn't convey much information beyond fingerings.