Its distracting that whoever invented glossing chose to use English words. Think of it this way: If they had chosen to represent signs using 4-digit number sequences or dits and dashes like morse code or Braille, the content of the glossed sentence would be the same.
Well, what I mean is, I’m not studying interpreting, I’m not a Deaf studies major, I don’t need it for work, school, or my home life. I’m learning it because it interests me to learn it. I have Deaf friends, but I made most of them after I started classes. It wasn’t something I need for my social life.
That said, when set about to learn something I try to learn it correctly and find the best quality instruction available. In this case I wanted to improve my fingerspelling and numbers because they were well behind my signing. I found the community college coursework for interpreters to be the best option considering I can get 12 weeks, 2 hrs/wk, with a Deaf instructor, for $115, and its open to non degree students as long as they test in. I don’t care about glossing, but its in the curriculum, so… bonus I guess.
Yes, by “meaning” I meant under the terms I was using.
Your motivations and situation in learning ASL match mine exactly. I am debating/agonizing (what else?) with myself whether to attend the ASL program a La Guardia Community college, which is the only school in the city that has a feeder program to their granting of an interpreter certificate (not the national one). I’ve taken classes eons ago, and am now lucky enough to get private lessons.
Your analogy of a music score is a good one, and ironic in an interesting way for me, particularly given our shared interests and motivations. I was a professional musician–a pianist and conductor no less; I often recall (good and badf) habits, practicing, and performative techniques, the physical training and communication of meaning/understanding through hand and gesture.
I wonder if we know each other. The class I’m in is at Laguardia. Previously I went to Sign Language Center. Do you ever attend the Union Square or Tribeca Meetups? If you’re not, you’re really missing out. If you do, we probably know each other. 
It’s PM-ing time!