I know this person that can teach me how to do typography really well.

Is there any point... does anyone actually do it by hand anymore and transfer it to the computer or is it done on the computer right away?

There are still diehards.. classic type design seems more like C.A.D. to me than creative design. You gotta know your math.   

Interestingly enough, one of the most established font design houses in the world, URW, is just up the street from our European office.  They are well known for inventing a kind of paper-to-digital font transfer system called Ikarus..

brief descrip:
Another application important to digital font design is Ikarus. Ikarus is a digitizing application developed in Germany by Dr Peter Karow of URW. Specifically designed to digitize letterforms and compile digital fonts, it is unique because the curve information is in the application code and controlled only by anchor points.

There are no control points in Ikarus as in Bezier-based application. With Ikarus the process begins with letterforms designed by conventional means, that is by drawing. These drawn originals are then hand marked for anchor points and spacing side bearings. A technician uses a sensor to plot this information into the Ikarus application, then checks and edits the forms. With the data complete, Ikarus compiles the digital font formats and descriptor files.

So I think in the end there's no real difference, just depends how old-school you are. Kinda like graphics, if you're an illustrator and your workflow is smoother on paper, it's a cinch to do all by hand then digitize it..

That’s very interesting Keith. What are the best font design houses in Germany? They are so good at designing fonts. I admire their technical ability and when it comes to fonts, that’s what it is all about. It’s also like pattern making really.

By the way Keith, do you know of any courses I could take in this area? Also, how long does it take on average to design a font?

One more question I forgot to ask Keith...what is the most popular font in Germany?

For how long it takes, that's a good question. I'm going to give a call to URW++ and see if we can arrange a 'field day' there and get some of these questions answered.

URW++ is indeed big however the biggest is definitely Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, aka Linotype.   They have over 4000 typefaces, including this extremely rare one called Helvetica. .

Berthold is also very big.

And here I was thinking I was smart and all thinkin, ooooh wait, I know that rare font.

And people actually take courses to be a professional font maker.

This is not that much old tech to be rejected. Today also most of the companies prefer this style of job to bring out their employee's complete talent to the sheets. I too prefer this as the best way to rest on. First learn to design with your hands then go to your PC.

My mother use to tell me that you should never stop learning.  If you have the chance, the time and can afford it...I would take the person up on training you.  I see your post was older.  Did you do it?