Why did you start learning a musical instrument?

[pi]

Started piano when I was in prep (my choice), gave it away a few years ago after finishing AMEB grade 6. Still play for fun sometimes at home.

[AlCat]

I started learning trumpet at age 4 because a family friend gave me a trumpet. Then I listened to James Morrison and fell in love with my instrument!

[whisperlightdeliverance]

I've always had a piano in my house... my mum used to play (well, still can) and my brother who is 3 years older than me had already taken up lessons when I was probably around 5 (but he's now playing guitar like a cool kid). I learned how to read music before officially starting piano lessons but as soon as I started doing exams... it became more of a chore rather than fun. I never did well in the exams (never got an A) and when I finally stopped doing exams 2 years ago, I got my worse score ever for grade 6. (C)
However... I don't regret learning piano... I still play now, but now I go with modern songs rather than classical...

[aabattery]

Began the piano when I was 5 (parents influence), but grew to love it... 
Started the cello in year 7 because I really wanted to play in my school orchestra.

[fuzzylogic]

In kinder, we were visited by a travelling orchestra and I fell in love with the violin and I would go around all day with two pencils held as a violin and bow and pretend to be playing.  I kept begging my parents for lessons, until they finally gave in the following year when I was in pre-prep.  Saw people at school playing piano, so asked my parents if I could learn too in year 1.  In year 3, I decided that the clarinet was pretty cool after hearing a girl play it in a concert at school.  In year five, my favourite character was lisa simpson, and since she played the saxophone, I just HAD to learn (pretty lame reason I know LOL) and then in year six, I fell in love with the oboe after hearing everyone tune to it in orchestra.  Still play all of them, except the oboe, which I realised I was screwing up my clarinet and saxophone embouchures. 

[OhMyRice]

My mum taught me piano but I was always lazy and wasn't really playing it for myself. That is, until I met my cousins. I was awestruck and inspired when he casually pulled out pieces like Arabesque 1 by Debussy and Chopin's Waltz Op. posth, E minor. And so my love for music began then and it's been constantly growing.
In Year 7, I accidentally got myself into learning violin. In the compulsory band program, I wanted to play violin but only violas remained on the shelves. After telling the teacher I wanted to learn violin instead, he misinterpreted that as wanting to take private lessons. I recently switched to viola last year, mainly because I wanted to get into orchestra. Yes, a switch with an agenda :O
But I prefer the timbre of the viola and always regret not learning the cello instead. (Saw a video of Handel's Impossible Duet on youtube of a cellist squeezing a violin between his legs and filming himself twice )

[aabattery]

For all those who love cello and classical music, you'll really appreciate this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry4BzonlVlw
 

[|ll|lll|]

My mum taught me piano but I was always lazy and wasn't really playing it for myself. That is, until I met my cousins. I was awestruck and inspired when he casually pulled out pieces like Arabesque 1 by Debussy and Chopin's Waltz Op. posth, E minor. And so my love for music began then and it's been constantly growing.
In Year 7, I accidentally got myself into learning violin. In the compulsory band program, I wanted to play violin but only violas remained on the shelves. After telling the teacher I wanted to learn violin instead, he misinterpreted that as wanting to take private lessons. I recently switched to viola last year, mainly because I wanted to get into orchestra. Yes, a switch with an agenda :O
But I prefer the timbre of the viola and always regret not learning the cello instead. (Saw a video of Handel's Impossible Duet on youtube of a cellist squeezing a violin between his legs and filming himself twice )

Have you heard of the passacaglia in G minor for violin and viola?

[xdecay]

Piano - parents made me because it was the archetypal Asian thing to do so I took private lessons.

Violin - it was also the Asian thing to do and had the opportunity at school, stopped in year 10 though.

Guitar - got really into heavy metal music during my angsty days so I started off with self-taught acoustic before moving onto electric but gave up when VCE started due to lack of patience.

Right now, I have nothing to show for except for bits of Fur Elise and some waltz on piano and lame Green Day chords. Still not giving up on guitar though.

[OhMyRice]

My mum taught me piano but I was always lazy and wasn't really playing it for myself. That is, until I met my cousins. I was awestruck and inspired when he casually pulled out pieces like Arabesque 1 by Debussy and Chopin's Waltz Op. posth, E minor. And so my love for music began then and it's been constantly growing.
In Year 7, I accidentally got myself into learning violin. In the compulsory band program, I wanted to play violin but only violas remained on the shelves. After telling the teacher I wanted to learn violin instead, he misinterpreted that as wanting to take private lessons. I recently switched to viola last year, mainly because I wanted to get into orchestra. Yes, a switch with an agenda :O
But I prefer the timbre of the viola and always regret not learning the cello instead. (Saw a video of Handel's Impossible Duet on youtube of a cellist squeezing a violin between his legs and filming himself twice )

Have you heard of the passacaglia in G minor for violin and viola?

That's the official name of the "Impossible Duet" I just happened to listen to a version with a cello and a violin. Have you learnt it?

[OhMyRice]

My mum taught me piano but I was always lazy and wasn't really playing it for myself. That is, until I met my cousins. I was awestruck and inspired when he casually pulled out pieces like Arabesque 1 by Debussy and Chopin's Waltz Op. posth, E minor. And so my love for music began then and it's been constantly growing.
In Year 7, I accidentally got myself into learning violin. In the compulsory band program, I wanted to play violin but only violas remained on the shelves. After telling the teacher I wanted to learn violin instead, he misinterpreted that as wanting to take private lessons. I recently switched to viola last year, mainly because I wanted to get into orchestra. Yes, a switch with an agenda :O
But I prefer the timbre of the viola and always regret not learning the cello instead. (Saw a video of Handel's Impossible Duet on youtube of a cellist squeezing a violin between his legs and filming himself twice )

Have you heard of the passacaglia in G minor for violin and viola?

That's the official name of the "Impossible Duet" I just happened to listen to a version with a cello and a violin. Have you learnt it?

Nope, because I play neither cello nor violin... not azn enough

What about for viola? Or any other big works for the piano?

[greenbeans]

Started piano in prep, so that's, what, 1999?
Parents more or less encouraged me and I liked it.. then a few years later started doing grades and then I stopped liking it. Around grade 4 or 5 I loved it and so continued to grade 8 which I finish in 2010.

In year 7, so.. 2006, I took up percussion & drumkit at school coz my older brother played it. Been doing that ever since, plus continuing with piano here and there.

So when it came down to choosing whether to do piano or percussion for VCE music, I made the choice based on how many virtuosos/how tough the competition was out there!

[greenbeans]

I've always had a piano in my house... my mum used to play (well, still can) and my brother who is 3 years older than me had already taken up lessons when I was probably around 5 (but he's now playing guitar like a cool kid). I learned how to read music before officially starting piano lessons but as soon as I started doing exams... it became more of a chore rather than fun. I never did well in the exams (never got an A) and when I finally stopped doing exams 2 years ago, I got my worse score ever for grade 6. (C)
However... I don't regret learning piano... I still play now, but now I go with modern songs rather than classical...

This is quite a common story, the exams taking out all the fun of playing!
Ive found that those who've had a classical training are much quicker at picking up a new piece of work regardless of difficulty or style and are much more adaptable...... BUTTTTT probably the most horrendous thing is hearing someone trained in entirely classical to attempt jazz... that is far from music to our ears! They just don't seem to have the 'touch' nor the 'feel'.........so having a keen interest in playing different styles of music is imperative and comes out in your playing! Having the knack can't be taught.

[TrueTears]

piano at age 3 coz my mum was a piano teacher at beijing music conservatory and wanted me to be a concert pianist.

but then 15 years later, I discovered mathematics.

[greenbeans]

piano at age 3 coz my mum was a piano teacher at beijing music conservatory and wanted me to be a concert pianist.

OMG! Pressure much?!