I've played guitar and piano for 35 years, primarily improvisational styles (blues / jazz). I had a year of classical training, but gave it up - and only return

I've played guitar and piano for 35 years, primarily improvisational styles (blues / jazz). I had a year of classical training, but gave it up - and only returned to music several years later. In my view, music is whatever you want it to be - you play what you want, and if it appeals to people, they will listen. Of course there's knowledge to be passed on (harmony, scales, patterns of rhythm) - but that's all it is - knowledge, which might help a player to better express what they want. A lot of music education treats these concepts as holy writ, which they are most definitely not.