Lets do a poll and see what the inhabitants of APUG play for musical instruments. Many photo gurus claim they are also accomplished musicians as well. So lets see if we have any maestros here.

I am talking about instruments you play on a regular basis. Not whether you took piano when you were a kid and haven't played it seriously since.

Personally I play a mean stereo LOL. Actually I hack away at guitar.

Eric

and Appalachian Dulcimer

Trombone mainly. More casually guitar and a few other instruments. I've been playing the ukulele a fair amount lately.

Played quite a bit when I was younger (Rock&Roll in the 70's). Picked up my classical again when my daughter started to play violin. (Suzuki publishes classical guitar accompaniment for their instruction series). I was REALLY rusty, but enjoyed it nonethless. I wound up playing accompaniment for the Thunder Bay Suzuki Strings at the local music festival. Probably the toughest gig I have ever played. The kids are all scared spitless, and their parents are twice as bad. Little Johnny starts off at warp factor 8 ('cause he's played the first few bars 4 gajillion times), gets about half way through, and stops. Looks for Mommy. Starts again. In a different key (wrong string). Stops again. Looks to me for a start. I play a few bars in the right key, and away goes Johnny again squeakin, howlin, and scratchin, anything to get to the end of the piece. Finishes. Big Chord from yours truly. Thunderous applause. Camera Flashes. Next victim.

I play a mean radio but it wasn't on your list. :p

Where do mandolins and banjos fit?

Guitar going on 38 years. Only regular gig these days is church on most Sundays. Did classical piano for 6 years until my early teens and 6 years of 1st cornet in the school brass band until I left high school. Regret I did not keep up these two but looking back would an 18yo wanting to be a rock star spend all his holiday pay buying a used trumpet or practice scales on the family organ instead of going to the beach!? Also bash away on harmonica occasionally.
I did a wedding last Sunday at very short notice and 2 minutes before the opening hymn the bride's brother asked if I could play Ave Maria during the registry signing! Err, I have no music and have never played it before. Oh well, then can you just do something appropriate? Sure! Managed to scratch out a few chords during the sermon which sounded vaguely Ave Maria-ish. After about 10 minutes of finger-picking on the steel string acoustic during the signing I was even boring myself and my fingers were ready to drop!
Highlight of the year was playing at my daughter's wedding while my other daughter sang a lovely version of Bill Wither's 'Just the two of us'. Photo attached.

I've been a high school music teacher and theatre conductor for nearly 30 years. When I first started, I often felt I had to master every instrument in the ensemble... now I know better. My first love was trumpet, followed by guitar and acoustic bass, keyboards, violin, and sax. ( I have a 1953 Conn 6M "Naked Lady" alto... it's a gem) I dedicated my life to music as a teenager, by way of thanking the one teacher who made a difference in my life. (it's a long story, one I won't go into here, but my students often hear it) Some years ago, I composed a full stage musical, which thankfully has never been performed. :D

For me, perhaps the most vibrant sensation of being alive is to be in an orchestra pit moments before the curtain rises... Baton in hand, knowing that I'm about to do something that will challenge my skill and my soul. that is living. When I'm about to perform, my core becomes very still... calm... but my mind is already playing out the next two or three hours; sound and light cues, entrances and exits, anticipating all the challenges actors can throw at the orchestra. I've always been blessed to work with fine musicians. I don't have to play a note, but the feeling is out of this world.

Sorry for ranting on, I just finished eight performances of Grease in nine days. It's still on my mind.


Cheers,

I've played classical guitar since I was 12, but only play for my own enjoyment. My partner blew me away when she gave me a new guitar and hard case (not me) for my birthday last year. To play classical guitar, you're supposed to have the nails long on the string plucking fingers and short on the fingers for pressing the strings. Sure do get some strange looks, especially from the women.
Mike

Guitar, piano, flute(s) - but my main instrument is voice. I considered going professional at one time almost 20 years ago.

Played trumpet semi-pro in the mid 80's, but eventually had enough of driving around the UK in a battered old transit van to gigs. After that I started writing music for theatre and still do in my spare time. The trumpet only comes out occasionally - usually when I've had too many beers. Also play piano badly, and guitar.

- Tony

Well, I've played guitar for some time now. Have some fine instruments. I'd have to consider myself a hack now.

My three son's on the other hand are very talented classical pianists. My oldest has given me stellar performances of my favorite composer Beethoven. At 17 he was the soloist in an incredible performance of Beethoven's Emperor Piano Concerto. He now composes his own works.

My gift is photography, I hope!

Jim

Where do mandolins and banjos fit?

It's best not to ask questions like that!

I play guitar semi-professionally, banjo, mandolin and ukulele.

Some of my rockabilly/western swing stuff can be found here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=69310592


Steve.

Also play piano badly

I bet I can play it more badly than you!


Steve.

This poll only allows you to vote in one section.

That's a shame as I was once in a band where dual kazoos featured prominently!


Steve.

As a conductor and singer in an early music vocal group (medieval and renaissance polyphony), I have to protest at your omission of the human voice from the list! :p

I also play bass guitar from time to time.

Wahhhhhh! What about us drummers???...Alligator tears falling! BoomBoom Sock, BoomBoom, Sock, DADADADA Crash!!
Just kidding.

Thats the a que for "drummer" jokes:D

I play guitar badly, mondolin even worse..short fat fingers, I was never bred to play stringed instruments but I like the challenge!!

Gari

Poll updated with more options.

Took up piano lessons as a 50 year old beginner about 9 months ago. Really enjoying it!

Les

Ahh. The Cuatro is on the list now. I have one of those as well.

Mine's a Peurto Rican model with ten strings so I'm not sure why it's called a Cuatro. The Venezuelan four string version is more or less a ukulele. I must get one.


Steve.

Thats the a que for "drummer" jokes:D
Gari

How do you know the stage is level? The drummer is drooling out of both sides of his mouth.

"Will all musicians, and the drummer, please report to the green room"

All successful Nascar drivers used to be drummers. (Good at speeding up and overtaking...)

Time for my favourite drummer joke (although it did actually happen).

Ringo Starr won an award for world's best drummer in a poll organised by Melody Maker (or a similar UK music magazine).

John Lennon commented "He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles!".



Steve.

You know what you call people who hang around musicians, don't you? Drummers.

I've played tenor and bass trombone for more years than I want to think about. I took up soprano saxophone a couple of years ago.
juan

I've played tenor and bass trombone for more years than I want to think about. I took up soprano saxophone a couple of years ago.
juan

I took up tenor sax for a while in high school. Such a contraption! Maybe all trombone players need to play a reed instrument to get over their contraption envy. They're making double-valve tenors trombones now. One more valve, and it's a trumpet.