Music And Kids And Learning

[jones]

  I do not come from a musical family and did not start learning guitar until the age of 15 (self-taught and proud of it!).  Now I have kids myself and a room full of instruments for my kids to tinker with... My two year old loves to peck on the piano and has now been given full-time access to a harmonica (she plays it non-stop).  When she is a few years older I will offer to teach her guitar...

 So..... Who plays an instrument?  What instrument?  When did you start?  Do/did your parents play?  Did they teach you?  Are you self-taught?  Classically trained?  Let's hear your story...

 

 

[goose]

Self taught on guitar(With help from friends); played sax in elementary and middle school.  I am trying to find a used one at the right price now, but they are really expensive still used.

[mjkoehler]

Self taught with some help of a friend. Picked up the axe 3 years ago and the ripe age of 33. Only other musical talent was trombone playing in Jr High. Yes, I was a tromboner.

My son has shown some aptitube while messing around on my guitar. I tried to teach him the basic chords but I do not have the patience or the real knowledge to do so. He will be getting real lessons.

[ALady]

Piano from age 5, violin from 9, dabbled in flute and french horn in junior high and high school.  Guitar as of last year and uke as of...Christmas.   ;D

The earlier you can get your kids playing, the better - their minds are like little sponges.  And I strongly believe there's a connection between musical training and academic success.  Plus, it's fun   :)

[aMillionDreams]

I learned violin when I was seven.  I always played around on the piano because we had one, but I didn't take lessons until I was in college.  I switch from violin to guitar when I was 13.  I took about two months of lessons and learned the rest that I know from playing with other people.

[FACE]

i started playing trumpet when i was 7 and have been playing since. classically trained, originally, moved on to jazz once i hit high school, and from there it was just free form, whatever i wanted and whatever i thought sounded good.
i also started piano when i was five, quit when i was twelve, and started playing again when i was fifteen (reteaching myself).
i can play the clarinet and drums, too.

i cannot, for the life of me, play any string instruments - guitar, bass, nothin'. it's too hard. there's too much goin' on.

[goose]

Self taught with some help of a friend. Picked up the axe 3 years ago and the ripe age of 33. Only other musical talent was trombone playing in Jr High. Yes, I was a tromboner.

My son has shown some aptitube while messing around on my guitar. I tried to teach him the basic chords but I do not have the patience or the real knowledge to do so. He will be getting real lessons.

In junior high, I switched from Alto sax to Baritone sax, then to trombone.  I taught myself every night new things for about 3 months.  It was one of the hardest transitions in my musical life.

[weeniebeenie]

My sister taught me to play a few guitar chords. After that I just picked it up really easily. Watching Carl on Okonokos has helped beyond belief. I also play drums and a little bass.
One day I will learn the keyboard!

[dragonboy]

My dad was a drummer until his knee gave in his early 60s.

I tried to learn to play the guitar in my late teens (who doesn't, right?) but was absolute CRAP! Still want to give it another shot someday...