This thread has been a great discussion but has resolved little for MacDuff except agreement to disagree. There is no doubt in my mind that classical training has some benefit but also some liabilities to a person wanting to play in the folk ideom. If I wanted to learn to drive a truck I would perhaps learn better from a truckdriver than from a racecar driver even though the skill and ability to drive may be much higher with the racer. Best to learn from those do what you want to achieve!