Curious - What instrument did you yoosta play?

[Age]

Remember elementary school and Jr High bands? I do. While the latter was almost bearable, the former was (and I'll bet still is) totally horrendous. 

Remember those kids walking home from school, who were carrying their little case with flutes, clarinets, trumpets and stuff? Sure ya do. Maybe I live in an extra weird bubble, but the thing that I've always found interesting is, of all those little future "musicians" who not only took "Band," but actually learned to play an instrument, virtually none of them (at least the ones I know) still play those instruments today. Heck, my son Gabriel learned to play the trumpet, paper training and all; he hasn't even touched one for over forty years. There's a definite lesson in there somewhere. I just have no idea what that lesson might be.

OTH, while never encouraged by my school, (quite the opposite, actually ) I played something NO ONE I knew (or even heard about) played and still play everyday.  I'd be curious to hear what any of you guys learned to play in school, and how / if you've benefitted. I had a friend in highschool who played everything the school had to offer like shaking a stick, and last I heard, even he doesn't play anything anymore. What's up with that?

What did you learn to play in school that you still play every day?

[Lockjaw Larry]

Our school offered zero music classes.  Growing up in a remote, somewhat poor neighborhood has its drawbacks.  But I could hitch hike quite successfully on drive in movie nights. 

[Scotty]

We called my 'high' school 'Charlotte Street'. Also known as 'Our Lady & St Francis Senior Secondary School'. A mouthful. I was 11. Seriously. Advanced for my age (NOT musically), but they had a music teacher who needed a violinist so...we had an old one my mother had acquired at a flea market. It had a paper label inside with 'Stradiuarius' so she believed. Anyway, back then I HATED violin, especially since ALL of the other girls were 17 or so and while my older sister also participated, she forced me to carry the dratted ratty old case on the bus and tram then 'allowed' me to play it after her. She couldn't play either, but at least I had the excuse of my bent pinkie finger - which ended up on the same string as my ring finger, despite the strenuous efforts of said music teacher. Her red-faced struggles to force my finger onto 'that' string failing, I'd earn '2 of the strap' for being stubborn.

I far preferred playing piano. Today I love hearing others play violin (Caroline Campbell with Chris Botti - be still my heart), but doubt I'll ever touch one again.

scotty

[John Broecker]

Learned to play, at a basic level, all of the
instruments of a symphony, including basic
keyboards (piano).

That was a requirement of the music education
degree, along with music theory and music-
related and optional "elective" studies. Favorite
electives were journalism and astronomy.

Also learned at least at a basic level, all other
percussion instruments of popular music: drum
set, congas, bongos, timbales, cajon, dumbeg,
and all known hand-held percussion instruments.

And, all harmonica types, basic level: all standard
diatonics, all standard chromatic types, glissando
harps, bass harps, chord harps, double-reed per
note "harmony harps", a few alternate tuning
slide harps (circular, diminished, Chordomonicas
and a few other alternates). No Harmonettas.

Most of the listed instruments were learned in
school or private lessons. Of all of these, bass,
chord, and alternate tuning harps were learned
outside of any schools. Still play the harmonicas.

Pro percussionist (musicians' union) for over 60
years; semi-pro harmonica player for 54 yrs.

Of all the sounds accumulated in my life,
sounds of nature are strangest to me.

Now retired.

Best Regards, Stay Healthy

JB

[Grizzly]

Like John, I learned the basics of a lot of band and orchestra instruments in order to teach them. I didn't continue past the basics on any of them, but I've played flute since I was 10 until now. (Piccolo a little later.)

Instruments I (hardly) play anymore: baritone uke, fretted dulcimer, recorders, autoharp, fife, all self-taught. Started uke and recorders early, the rest as an adult.

Not that you asked, but:

Instruments I picked up as an older adult, and still play: penny whistle, chromatic harmonica.

No mention of voice as an instrument. I've been singing regularly for almost 70 years.

Tom

[beads]

In grade school I learned to play the flutophone.  It is like a cheap plastic recorder. I learned to read music also. Later, when some of the kids were getting into band, I wanted to play the bassoon. I cannot remember why. Anyway, it didn't happen. Turns out they are expensive and my small school didn't need one in the band. Also, if I  recall correctly, the music teacher wasn't prepared to teach it. My folks got me a guitar instead because they both liked country music. I still play the guitar, but mostly play harmonica since 2001. Chromatic harmonica gets the most attention now. In the 90s, when I was in my 30s, I finally did make it into a band. I played mandolin in a bluegrass Gospel band for about 7 years.

We have a fine community band that plays free concerts in the local park several times each year. All ages in that group. Many are former high school band students.

[Bernie9]

In grade school I learned trombone and played through high school and a village band, as well as the fire department band. I have sung for seventy years in chorus, church choir, Barber shoppers(SPEBSQA) and years as as a solo keyboard entertainer. I taught myself organ in 1964 and keyboard in 1968. In the fifties, I picked up accordion and harmonica. I returned to harmonica about three years ago to supplement my show, and started piano two weeks ago.

[brorat]

In elementary school, our instrument choices were bells, triangles and sticks. I played sticks😱
I took piano lessons in first, second, and third grades. That’s where I learned a little about reading music.
My mom was the pianist/organist/choir director of the small Methodist church in town. I started singing in her very small choir early on. I sang in chorus in high school. Was actually All-State my junior and senior years. Sang in church choirs for nearly 65 years. Strummed guitar in a group that sang at church suppers and Rotary Club meetings.
Took piano lessons another year when I was in my 40s so I could play a duet with my two daughters at their piano recitals.
Took up chromatic harmonica at age 72.

[beads]

Band instruments can be heard without amplification in a parade or at the halftime show at the local high school football game. Being loud can be a curse if you want to practice and not disturb others. Perhaps that is one reason some stop playing such instruments?

[Lockjaw Larry]

Band instruments can be heard without amplification

One lunch jam while employed at Library of Congress in Virginia an employee brought his trombone to join in with.  Although he had earned a Grammy for his playing he played it so loud right behind me that my ears rang then hurt.  That was the last time I sat in if he was playing.

[smojoe]

When we weren't travelling back and forth to Italy in the late 40s and through the 50s, our neighborhood of choice in Pittsburgh was called Morningside. Since 1/3 to 1/2 of the school were Jewish children, we HAD a music program. So I had it in kindergarten, second, fourth, and sixth grades. I never really learned music that well.
So, in Italy (1955) I took up chromatic, in u.s., (1957) I borrowed and learned clarinet, in 1959 I started on diatonic, in 1961 I bought a tenor sax at a pawn shop. Started on trumpet in 1980. Played all four till a couple years ago when I quit everything. Gave everything away. My heart isn't in it any more. 

smo-joe (mr. cellophane).

[Wendellfiddler]

I played the trumpet beginning in the 4th grade - and while I no longer play it, that is how and when I learned to read music, which is something i do every day on a variety of instruments, primarily the violin and the chromatic.

doug tanner

[Age]

Okay you guys. Please go back and read the O.P.
(especially the last line - I even put it in bold and you still all missed it. )

[Grizzly]

What did you learn to play in school that you still play every day?


None. Except voice. Next best, flute, most often but not every day.

Tom

[Age]

Okay, now keep this line going.
I may be 'rong," but I think Grizzly's answer will be repeated by others.

[John Broecker]

I don't play the same thing every day.
I don't even play the same instrument.

But, if I did, it would be scales, scales,
and more scales, on one instrument.

Then, arpeggios, as many arpeggios
as I could stand, one instrument.

Add melodic sequences and stir, until frothy.

Best Regards, Stay Healthy

JB

[brorat]

Zero

[wolfman]

  You're spot on,it's Nulla,Doug.

  Roman

[grstatdoc]

I didn't start tuba until high school (learned piano and cello in elementary school)
I still play tuba (not every day, and probably not until after my cataract removal is complete)

[Scotty]

Okay you guys. Please go back and read the O.P.
(especially the last line - I even put it in bold and you still all missed it. )

Oops definitely DID miss that. I was going by the 'you yoosta play'. Mea culpa. The instrument I learned as a kid (at home, though) 'private' lessons which didn't last long, was piano - which I still play, and of course chromatic harmonica which I picked up at age 4 and never put down until I came to NY - did without for a long time and then began again in 2002, which led to the internet and then SPAH/Buckeye, and here. The heading ' what instrument you learned in school' also threw me off. THAT was violin, which I don't play. Our schools didn't teach piano or harmonica (especially to girls).

scotty

[Age]

Yeah, the "at home" lessons thing is somehow a whole 'nother subject. I remember my sister taking accordion lessons at home, and she's played that thing all her life. Granted, now, at 88, it's a bit harder for her, but she still loves play it.

My buddy, Randy learned guitar (at home) and continued all his life as well, so there would seem to be a difference between school and home "learnin'."  Maybe kids played in school to get outta stuff or because they thought "chicks" dug it or somethin'.

[Grizzly]

I got grief in grade school for being the first boy in decades to start flute. Flute was a "girl's instrument." I did it because I was sweet on Nancy A., who started at the same time. (She quit. It was my principle instrument in music school. I still play.) There were preferences based on gender in my era, the 50s. When I got to college in the 60s, I played piccolo in the marching band (the only one in a band of 200+). Again, many more females than males played flute. But none of them played in the marching band. It was all men back then.

Tom

[Ed McCullough]

I learned to read piano music when I was about 6. I didn't have the desire to keep playing piano for more than four years, and I did not go very far with it.
I started trumpet when I was about 12. Two years later the music teacher offered and suggested that I switch to French horn. I played that till I was about 22. The last year I played it I practiced 3 hours per day.
I've played chromatic harmonica for 3 hours per day. Once for a couple months I practiced 5 hours per day.

[Wendellfiddler]

Five hours a day is a lot of practicing.  The most i have ever done is about 4 without substantial breaks.  Primarily because I start to get tired and reach a point of diminishing returns - and some strain to the most relevant muscles and ligaments involved.  It's well documented that many short practice sessions are generally more effective than fewer long ones.  I believe that the studies I've heard of involve gymnasts.

dt

[wolfman]

 No pain no gain,Doug.

  Roman

[Age]

Thinking back, the only other instrument I was marginally interested in was the guitar, but never pursued it. I spoze if the school would've offered lessons on guitar, I might have given it a shot, but all I was ever really interested in was the harmonica.  As it turns out, I kinda picked up on guitar on my own when I was sixteen or so, and  still play those a bit today.

[Scotty]

I wish I'd learned to play guitar. I absolutely LOVE the instrument and had a cheapie I got after we came to NY. I had no idea how to play it but plucked away at it trying to match my brother's Ventures' albums, lol. I had no idea how to even string the thing - and it'd go out of tune so rapidly. With all that happened in my early life I don't really blame myself for not continuing, but as an adult I so wish I'd gotten a decent guitar and a good teacher - at least before the intense arthritic pain in my wrists and thumbs kicked in. Big regret.

scotty

[Lockjaw Larry]

Scotty, my wife took Hawaiian guitar lessons in school.  It has since fell apart but I usta mess with it a little.  I used to favor steel guitar music and more recently enjoy dobros.  Point is, those guitar-like instruments are somewhat friendly to arthritic hands since they use a slide of some configuration and finger picks.  Cats hate em though.

[Age]

Yeah,  I remember when we saw Toots here in Cleveland and he mentioned that he hardly played his guitar anymore.   (uncle Arthur's a mean old fart!)

I was just telling mama how screwed up my fingers are getting and how painful it is to play my guitars anymore. I need a double decker Ibuprofen sandwich before I can play anything. The Uke is a bit easier, but now I'm thinkin' I may hafta get me glass finger tube and goin all "Bonnie Rait" 

[Edward Brock]

Nothing...  I played Bass Clarinet for 2 years and Never played it again.