A large part of my learning was from my parents letting me take piano lessons. I took them for about five or six years before giving up on it in fifth grade. Then when I got into high school, I took a music theory class and the band director who was teaching the class mentioned that I should join the marching band. So plenty of it is what you get exposed to and taught at an early age, from my experience. If I didn't express interest in a man playing piano at a mall, my parents never would've asked if I wanted to take lessons, and if I didn't take the theory class I probably wouldn't be having so much fun in band or writing a few things of my own every now and then.
A very nice consequence of learning to play piano (and eventually, marimba) is that, as you get better/more experienced, you understand the theory more. And in reverse, the more you understand the theory, the easier it is to apply to learning and sight-reading music. Things like "Oh, this hand is playing these notes, so the other hand must be doing something with these specific notes" happen.
If you ever want help or want to learn about anything specific, hetchel, I'm always around here. I even helped Walker when he wanted to know a few things for some background rap beats
I'm usually on the IRC whenever my laptop is on.If you couldn't tell, I could go on and on about this stuff >_>
