To D.S: at a new manufacturing company, I'd say I learn about 80% of what goes on in the first couple of months (not years), and I've heard others say the same. Folk music is of course a different game and I will learn more about it, of course; but, I repeat, I did come into it with a pretty handy background, and the "tools" to know what to look for. And what I've done so far is very folkie - I travelled etc., I wrote the verses, I found a way to sing some of them (without being able to read or write music), and then taught myself the latter two, via recorder and keyboards. And I think I've done okay as an amateur, placing in festival comp's etc., thus far.