I've become mostly a lurker here, so I have no mod points to give. I logged in just to say that both this comment and the parent are some of the most insightful things I've read here in a while.

Also, I'm in the same boat. I have quite a bit of debt and many pieces of paper that say I'm really good at playing the viola. Even as the classical orchestra business crashes around us. Sometimes I think I'll go back for accounting or learn python and data science, but really, I'm enjoying studying the art of studying and have thrown myself into the education of my children (homeschooling for a variety of reasons, but the pursuit of a classical education is high on the list.)

So yes, I could have made way more money if I had chosen a different degree, and I would have enjoyed those pursuits just as much as I enjoy music, but I wouldn't want to undo the course my life has currently taken just to have more money.

I second that idea. None of the andoriod/ipad tablets with a capacitive screen and stripped down note taking apps can beat a Windows tablet PC with a Wacom pen and digitizer running OneNote. Infinite paper, the option to add space in the middle of stuff you've already written, searchable handrwiting, the ability to sync in audio recordings with what you're writing, and so much more cool stuff.

I don't know about all those other people, but as one of the few girls on slahsdot, I voted for Jack Sparrow because Johnny Depp is HOT.

according to the fundamentals of the Music Learning Theory and the practical application of a technique for the method (Jump Right In), children learn music in much the same way as they learn a language. although not entirely the same, by teaching patterns of sound with context, a child will have much more success in music than the current standards of teaching. for example, would you ever try to teach a 6 month old baby to read the alphabet before reading words before they could imitate sound for themselves? no!!! of course not, that idea is ludicrous. however, that's what's happening with music these days: students learn 3 notes the first week, with no context or reference to familiar music or sounds (unless their music teacher is particularly savvy). a "scale" is no more useful to music than the alphabet is to language.

back on topic of patterns having little to do with language... check out the music learning theory (ed gordon, richard grunow, chris azzara). there are tonal patterns which are separate from rhythm patterns. these patterns are based on the most basic aural knowledge of western music (tonic/dominant - macro/microbeats). children, who learn these patterns before embarking on learning a musical instrument, are much more proficient on the four vocabularies of music.

please check http://www.giml.org, and more specifically http://www.giml.org/methodology.html for a more thorough explanation of the importance of patterns in musical success.