Originally Posted by
majurey
My musical history is a sad one. I started learning piano at age 4 and won local competitions in Hong Kong at age 6. My parents made sure I practiced at least 2 hours a day -- I still remember sitting there practicing whilst I could hear my friends outside riding their bikes and playing. :(
At age 11 I took up the trumpet as well, and became a chorister in Canterbury cathedral. At 12 I won the second highest music scholarship to my school.
By 16 I had reached Grade 8 on piano (and being pushed to go further with a diploma), Grade 7 on the trumpet, was playing in the school symphony orchestra, brass band, jazz group, choral groups, and concerts.
And I hated every minute of it. Being told what to learn, what to play, how to interpret the music, every week full of rehearsals of one sort or another...
So when I reached 18 I kicked against everything I had done and achieved and gave the whole lot up. When I went to uni I took up the guitar, teaching myself (Fender Telecaster, Fender acoustic), joined a band, and started to love music properly for the first time. Able to play what I wanted, when, and how I wanted.
I continued playing after uni and it became a core part of my life. I went everywhere with my acoustic. Vacations, festivals, when visiting friends at their homes. I never thought I'd lose that part of me.
Then the career took off, I had kids, other hobbies, etc. etc. and I just never got the chunks of time I used to spend on my guitar. Gradually I played less and now, well, I can still play but it's been a few years.
I know I'm going to revive my interest in music, but I also know it will only start to happen once I have more time (i.e. kids growing a little older first) or by changing my priorities in life. :confused:
P.S. @Brian -- when your band plays I hope you use Dobly!;)