How advanced of a skill is "play by ear"?
Hello, I wanted to ask this question out of curiosity. I think it's fascinating that in so many creative fields enough talent and practice will get someone to the point where they can recreate something through only their senses.
I've been crocheting for a few years, and while I'm not a master, I've gotten to a point where I can pretty accurately recreate most projects I see photos of on Pinterest without needing a pattern. I know artists practice for years in order to accurately paint or draw a detailed image of a reference.
How advanced is the skill of being able to play by ear, or recreate a song without needing a music sheet? I'm sure there are different levels of it, but is it something most musicians can do? I'm musically inept, so I'd love to hear people's perspectives. Thx!
Edit: Follow-up question -- is music reading harder than playing by ear?