I picked up the violin when I was ten. So that makes it 14 years ago, now. Three years later the viola. I’m equally proficient at each, though not really proficient at either.
What I really wanted to play was the cello. But I was a tiny kid, and my mom didn’t want me to have to drag a cello around. I plan on picking it up soon, though.
I started playing guitar in college. That was about 19 years ago or so. Once I picked it up, I was on again and off again with it, but I ain’t half bad.
I have a Samick acoustic (knock-off, but good quality), a Fender Squire Bullet that I bought 15 years ago for $75, and a Gibson Les Paul Custom, that I “liberated” from my cousin who ruined a kick ass white gloss finish by trying to paint it up like Eddie Van Halen’s guitars (with the tape and the stripes and shit). My father re-finished for me in what he tried to make red, but ended up being pink. Still it looks cool, and sounds good.
Through teaching myself the notes and stuff involved with playing a guitar, I also taught myself piano – at least the major and minor chords, but my technique is for shit.
I also play a mean meat-flute.
I’ve been playing piano since I was 10 (i’m 20 now). I always wanted to buy a good keyboard and play in a progressive rock band.
I also play (well… learning to play) electric guitar since 1999 (I have a Strat). I’m having a great time, and i love music.
When i finish my career (Electronic Engineering) i think i’m going to study music (the real stuff).
I’ve learned to play bass guitar in 1996 and guitar in 1997 and I’m still crap at both. 
I learned to play the koto eleven years ago when I was an exchange student. I actually have my MIL’s koto sitting here in my house, but it badly needs tuning, which I’m too hopeless to do. I need to take it to my old sensei.
I’d love to take it up again, if I had the time…
I started learning viola at age eight and it took me a year to learn how to hold it, the bow, the finger positions, and hit the right notes all at the same time. Nine years later I was in Governor’s School Orchestra. After that my playing kind of dropped off for a while (college) and I haven’t been playing as much as I need to or like since then. This thread’s motivating me to pull him out from under my bed. (Yes, my viola’s male. His name is George.)
Geez, that’s four violists in 25 responses. There’s something very strange going on here, I just know it.
I’ve done a little piano, but nothing major. You know, the standard junior-high recitals. And in elementary school, I briefly attempted clarinet, but I sounded like a dying bullfrog.
My real instrument, though, is tuba. I played in the band for four years each of high school and college, but since I got my BS 3+ years ago, I haven’t had a chance. That’s the thing with tuba: It’s very tough to get your own, so you have to join a band to play.
My first real instrument was the baritone horn. I played that for two years in elementary school and got pretty good at it. During the second year I started playing drums. That was 28 years ago. I haven’t been playing the whole 28. I was hooked on that through HS and college. I still consider myself primarily a drummer. I got into fingerstyle acoustic guitar after college. That was 15 years ago. That’s what I play mostly nowadays. I did a stint playing bass in a country band and I still have a couple basses. I played banjo for a year. I also have a keyboard I do my writing on but I’m not a real keyboardist.
Started learning the clarinet when I was 9. 22 now, and except for my first 2 1/2 years of college (when I would bust it out sometimes, but never played in a large ensemble) I still play it.
My brother’s just learning the oboe now (he’s 11). I am afraid that either he’ll quit because it’s a difficult instrument to play, or because other kids will tease him for playing a “girly” instrument. I guess we’ll see.
I play the piano for 15 years.
the chello for 15 years.
the violin for 13 years.
the flute for 8 years.
bruna
I have a '78 Les Paul Custom electric guitar. I have a '91 Gibson Mastertone Granada banjo. I have a '92 Martin D-18 acoustic guitar. I have a '90 Fender Stratocaster American Standard guitar. I have a Gibson Mastertone banjo copy, with a really bad carving of a cardinal on the back of the resonator. I have a dulcimer given to me by a friend as a birthday present that I know absolutely nothing about. I have a banjo made by my late grandfather on my father’s side.
I can play somewhat recognizable songs on all of these, except the dulcimer. As far as how long I play them, that would be until someone in the same room says, “Stop, or so help me God, I will scream.”
I have played the bass since January 15th, 1986. I currently own a 7-string Conklin sidewinder.
I also own 5 different guitars:
A Johnson Acoustic/electric
A Fender Gemini I Classical electric
A Charvette model Charvel (Metallic Rose pink, neck through. Picked it up for $150 with the case)
A Danelectro DC-3
A Dean 7-string (ground 3/8" off of the back of the neck and plopped a Seymore Duncan JB in the bridge position)
I have two synths as well
I, also, converted one of the rooms in my house into a recording studio, complete with avocal booth.
I play myself, mostly.
I sing. Opera, etc. (Next role: Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann–a wind-up doll that the hero unwittingly falls in love with. Weird, huh?)
riv
iiiiinteresting…
I play the piano, as of, um, last week when I had my very first lesson! Is it too late to begin this (I’m 28).
N.
It’s never too late to stretch the mind and learn new things. Like a muscle the mind shrinks if it’s not used and only gets bigger when constantly pushed to its limits.
Guitar for 35 years or so. '74 Martin D28 and 2000 AS Tele. I play in a cowboy/jazz band.
I started out on Piano
then took up Clarinet
got bored, and switched to Saxophone
and finally settled on Bassoon, which I played all through high school and college
except that in marching band I played the marching French Horn
And now I sing in a choir sometimes
Oh, and in college, I conducted the pit orchestra for a musical.
I’m probably the only one who learned the xylophone in high school, but I only took it for a year. I’m probably not so good at it now.