Did Georg Philipp Telemann receive formal music lessons?

Georg Philipp Telemann did not receive formal music lessons. Although he displayed significant musical talent at a young age, his family discouraged him from pursuing music as a profession, as it was not considered a lucrative or attractive career path at the time.

Instead, Telemann became a self-taught musician. Through this independent study, he acquired the ability to compose and play a wide variety of instruments, including the violin, recorder, oboe, viola da gamba, chalumeau, and clavier.1