I'm a self taught programmer, but a formally trained musician.
My observation is that you can learn practically anything on your own, but some skills are so rare among the self taught, that one might as well assume they won't happen.
For instance, most self-taught musicians can't read sheet music at a useful level of fluency. That includes the vast majority of guitarists. Now there are plenty of playing opportunities that don't involve reading, and you'll generally do just fine, but if someone calls you for a gig that involves a lot of reading, you'll have to turn it down. Every town has a small cadre of musicians who enjoy this kind of work, and everybody knows who to call.
Also, some instruments lend themselves to self-teaching. The one that I play -- double bass -- is physically dangerous if you don't follow a "correct" approach, and most people who try to learn it on their own, give up in frustration. Guitar is a great instrument for the self taught. You won't kill yourself trying, and it pretty much makes a pleasant sound right off the bat.
As for programming, I use it in my job, but I'm not employed as a programmer per se. Programming is my secret weapon. I've never applied for a programming job. I work in a big enough shop, that if I have a theory question, or a problem that would really benefit from the opinion of someone who is steeped in theory, I just have to ask.
My observation is that you can learn practically anything on your own, but some skills are so rare among the self taught, that one might as well assume they won't happen.
For instance, most self-taught musicians can't read sheet music at a useful level of fluency. That includes the vast majority of guitarists. Now there are plenty of playing opportunities that don't involve reading, and you'll generally do just fine, but if someone calls you for a gig that involves a lot of reading, you'll have to turn it down. Every town has a small cadre of musicians who enjoy this kind of work, and everybody knows who to call.
Also, some instruments lend themselves to self-teaching. The one that I play -- double bass -- is physically dangerous if you don't follow a "correct" approach, and most people who try to learn it on their own, give up in frustration. Guitar is a great instrument for the self taught. You won't kill yourself trying, and it pretty much makes a pleasant sound right off the bat.
As for programming, I use it in my job, but I'm not employed as a programmer per se. Programming is my secret weapon. I've never applied for a programming job. I work in a big enough shop, that if I have a theory question, or a problem that would really benefit from the opinion of someone who is steeped in theory, I just have to ask.