The trouble with using software as an example is that software is so damn fluid and ever changing whereas notes on saxophone will always be played in the same f

The trouble with using software as an example is that software is so damn fluid and ever changing whereas notes on saxophone will always be played in the same fashion within the same tonal range. It;s measurable; software is always a work in progress. You can go to a pool and master all four swimming strokes: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle in about a year but you would not be a Michael Phelps. However you would be able to swim better than at least 80% of all of humanity and be considered a master. The word master needs to be better defined. You can quickly master many things in a year or less.