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Jilly_in_VA

(14,136 posts)

30. I did. No longer do

Tue Feb 3, 2026, 02:46 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.

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debm55

72 replies

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Highlight:

Did you or do you still play a musical instrument. Which one or ones.? I played the French Horn. And you? [View all] 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 5 #72