ntoll

I'm a classically trained musician (Royal College of Music) and played professionally for a couple of years before getting into software development. My brother is also a musician turned developer and this seems to be a common career path among former college friends.

I play all sorts of music (not just classical) and will listen to most things.

A life without music is truly empty.

I got bitten by this when I worked at an Investment Bank in London. It made me realise how much I valued my freedom to choose what and where I browse. Sad really, as IT staff in big mega-corps could probably do with an injection of entrepreneurial spirit.

Quite...

If you're in or near Oxfordshire then you should take a look at http://www.oxin.co.uk/

Of course, there is also the Europe-wide: http://www.seedcamp.com/

An oldie but a goldie: Sir Ken Robinson's talk on education and creativity delivered with such panache: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools...

Regarding music and hacking. Personally, music theory and the compositional techniques I learned as a student "feel" very similar to hacking: writing an examination fugue in the style of J.S.Bach involves complex thinking and problem solving within a (semi) formal system with an additional (and essential) appreciation of conciseness, grace, style and aesthetic.

Also, hacking music is fun! When I was learning to program I wrote a little app to solve species counterpoint problems with a genetic algorithm. Although not always up to "human" results (especially fifth species counterpoint) the "solutions" were always fun to listen to. ;-)

As for me: I'm a tuba player - a graduate of the Royal College of Music with an academic (rather than performance based) undergraduate music degree. I also play organ and piano. I still play regularly and was recently a soloist with a local orchestra in a performance of the Vaughan William's concerto. Life without music would be unbearable... :-/

I like this one...

Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is an absurd one.

- Voltaire

I'm doing exactly that right now. Fortes fortuna adiuvat (fortune favours the brave)! Best of luck... :-)

A single example of something you think is of poor quality does not mean everything within that field is poor. This is simply lazy (and prejudiced) thinking. :-(

prove it.. :-)

> Why exist? Just ask yourself why you don't commit suicide...