Addressing a young musician who was at a loss to feel confident in his playing, I assured him that it was OK: It had taken me at least 30 years after finishing formal training to have the slightest idea of what I was doing at the piano.

Autonomy is a pretty basic element of character and goes hand in hand with self-confidence. Questions: Is it possible to build the two into music training? Once they have been trained out of a person is it possible to get them back?

Do you agree with me that these are good questions -- even important?