Bonie, when I said "formal training" I didn't mean theory classes or anything like that. I was really thinking of organized lessons on your chosen instrument by a qualified instructor. By that definition, I think you are persuing formal training.

As people of my generation were learning to play, it became a matter of pride not to have taken any lessons---to be entirely self-taught. This was partly political since many of us were rejecting all the formalisms of an overly anal society but it was partly because "taking music lessons" was very uncool and nerdy and studying guitar meant having to submit to the local accordian accademy with a neon sign and a window full of gleaming trophys covered with mother-of-toilet-seat and learning to smile while playing "Lady of Spain." When I discovered it was possible to make actual music (that I enjoyed) without enduring many years of intellectual abuse, I was hooked. Still, given nothing but a chord book and a phonograph, do you have any idea how many times you have to listen to Gary Davis' "You've Got To Move" before you can figure out how to play it?

At some point (rather late) it finally dawned on me that an audience doesn't care how you get there, they only want you to be good and entertain them. If you can do that and be a legend in your own mind as well, that's fine, but they really just want to be entertained.

      - Mark