[gwm83]

I've found programming is much more like making art or music. You don't have to be "classically trained", and in fact I think the best I've seen aren't.

Not trying to romanticize programming. It is a grueling and frustrating experience in my opinion and experience. But those that are good at it can be exceptional at it.

Development isn't my day job but I read a lot of code and there are those that can write code that is simply beautiful to view and that is highly functional. It truly is an art.

Math is a secondary concern. Sure, if you are working on hardcore algo stuff, it's heavy on math. But the great, great majority of programmers are not doing that. They are writing logic to achieve a business goal using existing primatives.