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Did you or do you still play a musical instrument. Which one or ones.? I played the French Horn. And you? (Original Post) debm55 Feb 3 OP
Clarinet. OLDMDDEM Feb 3 #1
Thank you OLDMDDEM for sharing with us, Neat instrument debm55 Feb 3 #8
Highland bagpipe Dale in Laurel MD Feb 3 #2
Thank you very much, Dale in Laurel MD. Were you self taught on the bagpipe or did you have a mentor.Very neat. debm55 Feb 3 #9
I had a teacher. He also played harp and eventually switched to that almost entirely. Dale in Laurel MD Feb 3 #18
Wonderful, Dale. I love the instruments you named. Do you live in or by a Scotish community? debm55 Feb 3 #22
No -- no particular national/ethnic identity. Dale in Laurel MD Feb 3 #26
Piano, still play some but my forte was Voice gopiscrap Feb 3 #3
Oh how wonderful, You must be very , very good to recieve a Doctorate of Letters in Sacred Music. Congratulations. debm55 Feb 3 #10
I played the French Horn as well! Wiz Imp Feb 3 #4
Thank you for sharing with us, Wiz Imp. I only played for one year as my family made fun of me about it and I quit. debm55 Feb 3 #13
I started in 5th grade. Continued with it through high school. Wiz Imp Feb 3 #19
As did I . Thank you my friend. You were very good at your art. debm55 Feb 3 #24
Thank you! Wiz Imp Feb 3 #27
56 years 303squadron Feb 3 #5
Wow, you are very dedicated, thank you for sharing with us, 303squadron. debm55 Feb 3 #14
😂 I keep trying. underpants Feb 3 #60
Piano LoisB Feb 3 #6
Thank you very much. LoisB. Always wanted to play the piano. debm55 Feb 3 #15
I can play the radio! biophile Feb 3 #7
Thank you very much, that and my record player is what I played. debm55 Feb 3 #16
Clarinet EYESORE 9001 Feb 3 #11
I Play Electric Bass. BBbats Feb 3 #12
Piano, violin, and viola...but it's been decades SheltieLover Feb 3 #17
Flute in High School/Collage. Husband worked for CBS..Studio for films. Tenor Sax..Selmer MarkVI chouchou Feb 3 #20
Thank you very much, chouchou. What a talented family. debm55 Feb 3 #47
Bagpipes gladium et scutum Feb 3 #21
Thank you very much, gladium et scutum . I absolutely love the pipes. debm55 Feb 3 #46
Piano, though not for many years. 'Had the wildest piano teacher as a kid though... hlthe2b Feb 3 #23
What a great post, hIthe2b. She sounds like a real character. debm55 Feb 3 #45
I have a Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees oberle Feb 3 #25
Oh wow, oberle. you are very talented. Thank you for your post. debm55 Feb 3 #44
I had piano lessons and played clarinet in the school band. Diamond_Dog Feb 3 #28
Thank you very much for sharing with us. Diamond_Dog. Your talent shines. debm55 Feb 3 #43
I did the French horn too, but I certainly didn't play it lol JMCKUSICK Feb 3 #29
HAHAHHHAHAHAHAH. Thank you very much , John. for sharing with us. debm55 Feb 3 #42
I did. No longer do Jilly_in_VA Feb 3 #30
You are so talented, Jilly_in _VA Thank you for sharing your musical skills with us. debm55 Feb 3 #41
Like many people, guitar, electric and acoustic. NNadir Feb 3 #31
Wonderful, NNadir. You are so talented. Thank you for sharing. debm55 Feb 3 #40
Woodwinds Torchlight Feb 3 #32
Great. That you for sharing and I am glad you are still playing. debm55 Feb 3 #39
I play several woodwinds.... sdfernando Feb 3 #33
Wow, thank you very much. sdfernando. That list is wonderful debm55 Feb 3 #38
;-{)..... Goonch Feb 3 #34
HAHAHHHAHAHA. Is that you? That's great! If it is you, do you still play? debm55 Feb 3 #37
;-{) No, that's my proxy..... Goonch Feb 4 #61
Thank you , Goonch. debm55 Feb 4 #62
My dad had one & played it sometimes. SheltieLover Feb 3 #55
Piano, keyboards lark Feb 3 #35
Thank you very much. lark. debm55 Feb 3 #36
We were fortunate that our elementary school had a robust music department. mysteryowl Feb 3 #48
Thank you very much mysteryowl. That is wonderful. The arts are being now cut out of many schools. debm55 Feb 3 #50
I know, that has been going on for some time. mysteryowl Feb 3 #51
I hope you know the words to Mozart's Eb Horn Concerto. dickthegrouch Feb 3 #49
I only played for a year as my family made fun of me taking music lessons. I am happy you were encouraged to play the debm55 Feb 3 #52
I learned to play the piano at the early age of 32. sinkingfeeling Feb 3 #53
May I ask why you gave it up? debm55 Feb 3 #56
My son said I was awful. sinkingfeeling Feb 3 #57
Oh, you just needed more time. debm55 Feb 3 #59
Flute and Piano! skylucy Feb 3 #54
Excellent choices, skylucy. Do you still play? debm55 Feb 3 #58
Recorder Piano Keyboards justaprogressive Feb 4 #63
Thank you very much for sharing with us.justaprogressive. Great choices. debm55 Feb 4 #64
The radio Wicked Blue Feb 5 #65
HAHAHHAHAHHHAHAHAh. Thank you Wicked Blue debm55 Feb 5 #67
I played the clarinet in elementary school. I hated it. Called it the "rotten piece of wood." Vinca Feb 5 #66
Oh you, Thank you for sharing, Vinca. debm55 Feb 5 #68
Alto Sax in high school band. hamsterjill Feb 5 #69
Thank you very much for sharing with us. hamsterjill. for sharing with us. Do you still play. debm55 Feb 5 #70
Unfortunately, no. hamsterjill Feb 5 #71
Thank you and you have a great night too. debm55 Feb 6 #72

debm55

(60,705 posts)
9. Thank you very much, Dale in Laurel MD. Were you self taught on the bagpipe or did you have a mentor.Very neat.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 02:32 PM
Feb 3

Dale in Laurel MD

(797 posts)
18. I had a teacher. He also played harp and eventually switched to that almost entirely.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:03 PM
Feb 3

I also play (much less proficiently) Appalachian dulcimer and pipe-and-tabor.

gopiscrap

(24,735 posts)
3. Piano, still play some but my forte was Voice
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 02:11 PM
Feb 3

I have and still sing in churches all over the world and in October of 2024 I recieved a Doctorate of Letters in Sacred Music

debm55

(60,705 posts)
10. Oh how wonderful, You must be very , very good to recieve a Doctorate of Letters in Sacred Music. Congratulations.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 02:35 PM
Feb 3

debm55

(60,705 posts)
13. Thank you for sharing with us, Wiz Imp. I only played for one year as my family made fun of me about it and I quit.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 02:44 PM
Feb 3

Lessons and instrument were free.

Wiz Imp

(10,022 posts)
19. I started in 5th grade. Continued with it through high school.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:13 PM
Feb 3

I was pretty good for a high school kid - I made District Band my Junior year and Regional Band and Regional Orchestra my senior year - but gave it up after high school. Could never afford to own my own French Horn (they were extremely expensive) - used the school owned instruments. I still love music featuring the French Horn, though.

303squadron

(826 posts)
5. 56 years
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 02:13 PM
Feb 3

On guitar including training on classical guitar. If I keep playing I’ll be almost good in a couple of years.

EYESORE 9001

(29,742 posts)
11. Clarinet
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 02:35 PM
Feb 3

Any brass instrument was deemed too annoying for parental ear-holes. Drums were RIGHT out.

BBbats

(309 posts)
12. I Play Electric Bass.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 02:42 PM
Feb 3

Or Bass Guitar some like to call it.
I was full time professional doing Bass & Vocals for about 35 years. I play regular six string guitar for fun.
I'm retired but still do two to five gigs a month.

SheltieLover

(80,525 posts)
17. Piano, violin, and viola...but it's been decades
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 02:54 PM
Feb 3

I've thought about getting a "real" sounding electric keyboard to rekindle my keyboard skills.

chouchou

(3,148 posts)
20. Flute in High School/Collage. Husband worked for CBS..Studio for films. Tenor Sax..Selmer MarkVI
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:14 PM
Feb 3

gladium et scutum

(829 posts)
21. Bagpipes
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:16 PM
Feb 3

since 1962. Now 78 years old, arthritis and COPD have ended my piping days over a decade ago.

hlthe2b

(114,001 posts)
23. Piano, though not for many years. 'Had the wildest piano teacher as a kid though...
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:26 PM
Feb 3

She had a really little house with a driveway full of those old time Cadillacs with the wings ( ) Three or more. Yes, they were really old cars even then, but she drove them.

You know these types of Caddies:



Though none of them were in that kind of shape.

Oh, and while my sister and I wanted to play some kind music we'd heard of, she wanted to teach us nothing but "boogie woogie". She might have us learn a little classical, but boy did she love her boogie woogie. I remember reaching a compromise for a recital that I played "Girl from Ipanema.." LOL

She was one weird old lady ("Mrs. Franklin" ) I never asked my mother where she found her. I wish I had.

So I was a passable pianist, going on to learn on my own. But no access to a piano for many years.

oberle

(361 posts)
25. I have a Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:27 PM
Feb 3

in organ and harpsichord. I also play piano, and have played carillon and bagpipes.

Diamond_Dog

(40,602 posts)
28. I had piano lessons and played clarinet in the school band.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:31 PM
Feb 3

Don’t do either any more! BTW I love the sound of a French horn.

Jilly_in_VA

(14,386 posts)
30. I did. No longer do
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:46 PM
Feb 3

I was forced to take piano lessons, which I reasonably enjoyed except for having to participate in recitals, which I absolutely HATED.(It is my considered opinion now that those are not for the student, but for the teacher. Fight me.) I quit after 6th grade but still played for enjoyment.
From grades 7-9 I played the flute. I enjoyed that reasonably well but after 9th grade I was told that participation in concert band also required participation in marching band. Since I can barely walk and chew gum at the same time, I decided, no thank you very much, and sold my flute. After that I became a choral singer, something I deeply enjoyed and did for 50 years in various choirs.
I also played alto recorder and pennywhistle, strictly for my own enjoyment. Not sure where either of those instruments even are now.

NNadir

(38,084 posts)
31. Like many people, guitar, electric and acoustic.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 03:56 PM
Feb 3

I was very, very in to it for many years, played semi-professionally, mostly acoustic folk kind of stuff.

Torchlight

(6,832 posts)
32. Woodwinds
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 04:23 PM
Feb 3

Band and orchestra nerd from HS and college who dreamed (as a teen) of being 1st chair in the Boston Phil. one day. Pivoted quickly to History in college, but the joy of playing remained. These days, I'm wholly content with being in our little, two stop-lights town's civic orchestra.

sdfernando

(6,085 posts)
33. I play several woodwinds....
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 04:25 PM
Feb 3

Started on Alto Sax in Jr. high....then took up Flute in 9th grade...added Clarinet in my late 20s. Still playing and in my mid-60s now.

I'v played in high school and college bands, community bands, community orchestras, big bands/swing bands, ragtime orchestra, saxophone quartets, wind quintets, and various other small groups.

I can play/have played all of the following:

Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute, Bass Flute (all in C except Alto Flute which is pitched in G)
Bb Clarinet (my weakest horn)
Eb Alto Sax, Bb Tenor Sax, Eb Baritone Sax (so much fun to play this one), Bb Bass Sax

Goonch

(5,069 posts)
61. ;-{) No, that's my proxy.....
Wed Feb 4, 2026, 09:18 AM
Feb 4

I eventually hocked it to buy my sweetheart a gold charm bracelet. We married later.

mysteryowl

(9,315 posts)
48. We were fortunate that our elementary school had a robust music department.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 08:52 PM
Feb 3

I am so grateful I learned the flute as a child and I still play today.

debm55

(60,705 posts)
50. Thank you very much mysteryowl. That is wonderful. The arts are being now cut out of many schools.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 10:42 PM
Feb 3

mysteryowl

(9,315 posts)
51. I know, that has been going on for some time.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 10:45 PM
Feb 3

I saw a documentary a long time ago about what learning to play an instrument does for a person.
Many benefits!

What instruments do you play?

dickthegrouch

(4,534 posts)
49. I hope you know the words to Mozart's Eb Horn Concerto.
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 09:12 PM
Feb 3

Last edited Tue Feb 3, 2026, 10:00 PM - Edit history (1)


I play the flute and sing.



😂

debm55

(60,705 posts)
52. I only played for a year as my family made fun of me taking music lessons. I am happy you were encouraged to play the
Tue Feb 3, 2026, 10:46 PM
Feb 3

flute and sing.

Vinca

(53,999 posts)
66. I played the clarinet in elementary school. I hated it. Called it the "rotten piece of wood."
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 06:10 PM
Feb 5

hamsterjill

(17,582 posts)
69. Alto Sax in high school band.
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 09:44 PM
Feb 5

First chair, All Region Band!!! LOL

But I would rather have been playing with the cute boys!!!

debm55

(60,705 posts)
70. Thank you very much for sharing with us. hamsterjill. for sharing with us. Do you still play.
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 09:47 PM
Feb 5

hamsterjill

(17,582 posts)
71. Unfortunately, no.
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 10:17 PM
Feb 5

I'm retired now. Maybe I should put that on my "to do" list!

Hope you're having a great night!

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