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.

>>26
When you take the time to learn that Most governments are ruled by "Zionist" National Bankers (I.E. Parasitic humans that believe on an abominable Fairy), you will encounter as a programmer these insane Neo-Aristocrats, that will try by any means to rip you off everything (thing you love, even credit for work), as you work for their bidding being a debt slave. Most us are read of soci-politica-economic landscape, and understand their plan for global domination as "Fairy's Chosen people", and utterly dislike or enjoy their goal and working for and against it.

/prog/ was not like this, until some people invade the our forum with stuff from /newpol/. And because we know how "Zionist" affect us /prog/riders, we defect to reply, regardless of the position in the discussion at hand. You should read /prog/ in the ancient threads. They are awesome. We were gods in 2005-8. But it was turning to shit these days.