Violinist here. Started playing when I was 6. Performance was my first major in college. But back a step, when I was 12 I received my first computer - a Timex Sinclair 1000. I started programming that thing right away, and certainly it was natural for me. With nothing to go by but books, I did quite a bit of coding for a youngster. When reality hit me in college with having a family on my mind, I switched back to my second love - which was computers. Musicians have a much harder time making good money, benefits, etc than a programmer. So I switched to a CS program and degree.

There are strong underpinnings of math and creativity in BOTH music and software development. Whether it is realized or not, music depends heavily on a different and non-spoken 'language', as wel as dividing time. Music obviously requires creativity and interpretation of what written music was intended to sound like - just as reading software requirements, and meeting with clients requires an interpretation to provide the solution that the client can't always even visualize themselves. Another facet is discipline. All the creativity in the world won't make you the best musician. It takes hours and hours to perfect a musical technique and sometimes hours and hours to perfect a particular musical piece. Isn't programming much like that? You won't be too successful if all you can do is visualize a solution - your job is to apply the discipline to see it through to a finished product.

I guess my first post on this board has ended up being quite long.... Sorry. It is just that I too have recognized this over the years. Many musicians I know, are also in the IT field, and quite a few of my colleagues play gigs on the side.