Without knowledge, you may be "freer" in a sense, but you're also ignorant to what you don't know.
There may be some things you've never tried, simply due to not knowing that you could ever do them.
Sure, you may discover them on your own, but (to paraphrase a known idiom) it's also possible that 1000 monkeys at 1000 type writers will eventually recreate the works of Shakespeare.
How long will it take, how much time would be wasted in trying to reach these techniques and ideas, and will it be too late?
I think if you do learn, do it by yourself. You learn your own method of construction and writing, which enhances the way you use your knowledge rather than always going back and remembering how your tutor did it.
But anyway, after I learned about keys and scales, I realised that I was writing music in only two keys because I didn't know any better.
Now I know more, and I know how to change keys, and I know how to do a whole bunch o' stuff. But I also am able to break these rules because even though I now have a solid grounding in musical theory, what sounds good to me, and what I want to do with my music are first and foremost.
You just gotta know what you want to do with your music and not let what you learn compromise your vision.
It's when you don't know, then you lapse into what you already know and have heard before.
Simple as that.
My thoughts dead on, exactly. Also, fine thoughts in Cupz's post, too.
