Not sure I understand the first question...

On "theory/scales etc",...yes, some, but I'm still learning. I never had a music class in school. I didn't even know how to read music prior to starting a few months ago.

My instructor has a degree in music (guitar). I never understood how someone could go to college to study a musical instrument. It didn't take long to understand. I never knew there was so much to know, and master.