"Many people who have classical training never develop the ability to play by ear. Technically, you don't need it, because everything is on the page, and you have been taught how to render it.   It has always struck me that that approach reflects a lack of creativity and imagination."

Well put, M.Ted. The learned dependency on the abstract notation of music on the page can be a real problem. I have a friend who can only learn traditional tunes from a tablature transcription, because he doesn't trust his ears. He's an excellent musician otherwise; but in this respect he holds up the need for the written page as a barrier to music that, I feel, needs first to be apprehended with the body. It's dance music.

"You Are My Sunshine" is pretty simple, but nobody's offered the chords past one of the first posters, and I'd actually disagree... here's how I play it. ( in D)

            D (I)                         A (V)       D (I)
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

                         G (IV)                         D (I)
You make me happy    when skies are grey

                     G (IV)                              D (I)
You'll never know, dear    how much I love you

                   D (I)             A (V)          D (I)
Please don't take       my sunshine away