How long until you are competent?

I'm a high school senior who is very interested in programming as a backup option for if my acceptance to music school does not happen, or happens with too little scholarship money to afford it. I'm pretty big on math, and have done a bit of Learn Python The Hard Way. I guess my question is, with or without college, how long does it seem to take until most people are able to begin programming for money?

I know it's a lifelong-learning experience, but surely there has to be a point in which you can support yourself on your work.

>>11
Welcome then >>11,4-san. >>7 thought that since you work for an insurance, you are profiting out of bogus claims, and that in 2015 that job will go away. The implications of a Zionist (Jew), means that you only seek profit from nothing, like national bankers, at the expense of others (most National bankers call themselves Zionist, which imply something about their philosophy and how it affects the world socio-politica-economic landscape quite well). But he did not know you worked as a contracted employee, if you are >>10. So we would call you a poorfag or goyim, since you work for someone else, who is profiting like a Zionist.

Also, try to unlearn OOP. It is an abomination. Functional and S-expresions are better methods. I like Array programming too.