Volatile wrote:
After a couple of years break, I decided to give the Yamaha YRT 304Bll another attempt. I'm reviewing music theory and the thought occurred - why ? I understand the need for knowledge of Major and Minor keys and their time signatures, rhythms note values and scales. However, if all I do is play solo (have no desire to write music), what's the point of learning the intervals beyond knowing the steps between notes ? Major this, Minor that, Augmented, Diminished, Perfect. No sooner do I complete the exercises at the end of the chapter in intervals I forget most if the names .

FWIW, my approach, initially on whistle about 5 years ago, but subsequently on various woodwind (including recorders) and fretted strings, was to learn just what I needed to play the tunes I wanted to play.
This has panned out as a working knowledge of "one or two sharps", "one or two flats" and C which covers probably about 95% of the sheet music I want to play.
If the only copy of a piece of music I want to try is available in some less attractive key (to me), I'll type it into ABC, transpose it and re-print it. Until such time as I find myself in the company of someone who wants/needs me to play in "five flats" (or whatever) I'll happily amuse myself with my limited capabilities and get on with playing music!
YMMV!