Me and Cloverjo must come from the same time and place where descant recorders were dished out at primary school and we had to shriek along to a radio programme - had accompanying booklets with pictures and a little music. Never learned music but can still remember what to call the recorder notes.
Top e - made cats jump
Top c - bit easier to get right
BAGEF# another F D and bottom C
40 mixed juniors all shrieking out of time and tune into plastic descant recorders....oh my......
Then when I was 11 my father presented me quite randomly with a violin. I was sent for lessons on a Saturday with a nasty bitter woman who spent most of each hour belittling her pupils. Oddly enough I allowed a sibling to hijack the instrument.
Learned to play chopsticks on a harmonium.
These are all essential life skills to place alongside knowing how many chains there are in a furlong.
I too got to play the recorder at school. I also had piano lessons, trouble is I couldn't master reading music. I could hear a piece of music and play it, but sadly my left hand didn't have a clue what to do.
When I was about 4, my Mum tried to teach me piano but I made such a fuss about it, she stopped. Since then, I can never walk past a piano without
regretting not being able to play it.
Recorders ere very popular when I was a boy and I could play one reasonably well. But when I was 12, I joined the local brass band and played the e and b flat basses, until I was 16.
I played and taught some recorder then learnt the flute. Had piano lessons as well and then went on to the guitar, some classical lessons and taught myself a lot of it. Used to be in school/college orchestras and choirs and was involved in a lot of church music.
Rarely play anything now but would love to be a better piano player! Always wanted to be able to play the theme from The Piano but not had a piano for years.
Flute to Grade 6. One of the cheapest instruments to buy and luckily one of the easiest to carry. Also held in a useful position to have play fights when we got bored in orchestra or wind band.
Never learned professionally, but have always like piano and guitar. I have an ear for music too which comes in handy when I strum a few chords on me guitar! Oh, also played recorder at school.