[anonAndOn]

I would much rather learn from somebody who has done it professionally at a very high level than some academic (or worse, a wannabe academic) who is all theory and no results.

You see no value to taking a music theory class with a platinum artist in your discussions on song structure? Or maybe the rock star wants to expand his horizons a bit and is also in your Ethics class discussing the effect of Napster on his ability to afford tuition. Or maybe he sits next to you in Econ and wants to use his experience in the music biz as the basis for your group project. etc, etc...

Forget the exam nerds, I'll take the real players every time. YMMV

[distances]

I'm all for rock stars expanding their horizons if they score better than those nerds. Though the education is even in that case likely better invested in the student aiming to get a career in the field, rather than in a rock star's recreational studies.

The "real players" could also visit as guest lecturers on your music theory class, assuming they have good enough merits on the subject.