yo farkel (still can't emotionally call you "doug"...the name of My X.)
My son graduated college with music major & honors....french horn (sounds prettier than *horn.*) He graduated Law School last week & first job is Clerk for the SC Supreme Court.
When interviewing with various firms, the interviewer was always interested in his music background....said he was a natural for computers, etc. Why? Because music is like another language....except the learner/lover of music *understands* music.....not just reading the words. He breathes it, loves it, speaks it fluently, interprets.
Of course, my son could have been shit*ing me too..... as he's wont to do. But it makes sense. And he doesn't compose, btw. Just loves to hear & play.
"A critic is to an artist as a lamppost is to a dog." Well worth taking to heart. I firmly believe that a person without ego is a person lacking. It just depends on how large/small our ego is in relation to other things. So....pee on critics.
Have you thought of joining a site like www.uniburst.com Uniburst is new....but I gather there are others similiar. I know some about it - email me if you'd like. Well, even if you don't like
Take care.
waiting