Comments on: Time for musical purging: How many instruments do you own that you never learned to use?

By: Kaylene

Kaylene — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:14:30 +0000

If my brother knew how many people had banjo’s that couldn’t play them he’d probably want to buy all of them, which is why I probably won’t even refer him here. He’s obsessed.

We can’t seem to keep our house stocked well enough with instruments. My sisters play violin. All three of us play piano. My brother and I, guitar. My brother wants to learn to play the mandolin, but he doesn’t have one yet. I play the guitar (am just learning actually) but don’t own one yet. so yeah, these comments are enough to drool over.

By: Denita

Denita — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:09:25 +0000

I’ll trade you the fiddle for a Yamaha MIDI synthesizer keyboard, Abraham! Comes complete with original artwork by my bored then-4-year-old son, no less!

–Denita

By: joelburdeaux

joelburdeaux — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:22:27 +0000

Wow! A bassoon player!

I switched from Bassoon to guitar when I was 16 because I saw two options… Peter’s Grandfater, or Slash… I chose Slash.

But, I secret I rarely admit is that I often play “air bassoon” while listening to classical music.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:26:27 +0000

It’s time to learn! You’ll love it and won’t regret it. My husband bought me a guitar 5 years ago for Mother’s Day and it was the best gift ever. Pick them up, you’re holding onto them for a reason!

By: ED...

ED... — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:02:39 +0000

My difficulty is getting back the instruments I’ve loaned to people…

By: Jeanie

Jeanie — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:31:57 +0000

I don’t think we have any instruments here.

Now, if you’re talking record albums not played….

By: Jawan

Jawan — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:29:46 +0000

I own a flute which I played from the fifth grade until my freshman year of college. I think it’s somewhere in a box out in the garage.

I also own an acoustic guitar which I don’t know how to play. I’d love to learn and it’s one of the many things I’d like to do before I die.

By: carissa

carissa — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:49:11 +0000

none, but i don’t really use it now (flute . . . a useless instrument if you don’t plan to be a pro). i sold both of my guitars because i needed the money, but it was just as well because i didn’t play them enough to be a rock star, and it wasn’t as fun to play if i couldn’t play like a rock star. i know, fickle.

By: Laur

Laur — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:43:59 +0000

Hey … what d’you know? We are LOOKING for a banjo and accordian. Are yours for sale, Abraham, or would you prefer to have someone else “store” them for you? (I’m completely serious, here.) :) Please email me if you would like to find a good home for your unused instruments. :)

We used to own a guitar and banjo, but sold both because Nick didn’t play the banjo as much as he used to. I sold the guitar and dreamed of replacing it, one day, with a Gibson acoustic guitar. Last year, for my birthday, I received a beautiful Southern Jumbo Gibson (just like what my Dad used to play, and what my brother intherited when he died.) NOW we are looking to replace the banjo because we want to get back into playing guitar/banjo together … plus, our 11 yr old son is asking to learn banjo. :) Our 14 yr old daughter is in her tenth year of piano lessons, and would also like to learn to play bass guitar (anyone have one of those they wish to give/sell?) … so we’re lookin’ to start a family band.

joel — Les Paul = sweet!! :)

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:31:34 +0000

If you mean me personally, there is a violin and a saxophone,* and voice, of course, but my kids play those. If you count everyone in the house, then there are none. Everyone can play something:
piano
violin
guitar
saxophone
voice

However, not all are currently used regularly…but not forgotten…

*I did try to play the sax when my son broke his arm. I thought if we’re paying for this thing (we were renting it at the time), SOMEBODY is going to play it, but it was so hard for me. I was happy that he returned to it:)

By: Chase

Chase — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:10:04 +0000

I haven’t yet given up on, but am not currently pursuing proficiency on:

Harmonica
Accordion
Mandolin

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:32:36 +0000

Any of you have duplicate instruments? That’s me. :-)

I do play:
Bassoon
Alto sax (kinda…)

I don’t really play but know the basics:
clarinet
keyboard

I just brought the sax and clarinet from my parents house…

Anyone looking to get rid of the guitars that you don’t know how to play to add to my collection?

By: Amanda Beattie

Amanda Beattie — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:30:29 +0000

I play every instrument I own–keyboard and an assortment of flutes and folk flute-y things. I’m not great at all of them, but I know my way around.

The only one on which I completely stink is the pan-pipes, and I am so unskilled and halting on it that it’s kind of painful. So I don’t play that very much. :}

By: David Wickiser

David Wickiser — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:11:43 +0000

If you want to purge your collection, feel free to give it to Kristi Michael so she can deliver it to me…
I only have a harmonica that I don’t play.

By: brance

brance — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:56:51 +0000

I wouldn’t normally do this because it kind of feels like I’m spamming, but there seems to be a few people interested in the banjo, so…

Shameless self promotion here, but in addition to blogging and being interested in reformed theology, I produce bluegrass instructional DVDs. I just finished one with Ron Block, the banjo player with Alison Krauss. Ron is a dear friend and a very strong and thoughtful believer.

I blogged about the DVD this morning on my “professional” blog…

The Bluegrass Blog

By: LB

LB — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:12:50 +0000

Sitar.

I’m going to learn how to play it any day now…

By: Em

Em — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:42:14 +0000

Keyboard
Kazoo
Castanets
Maracas
have also had a flute which I sold, unplayed; acoustic guitar, trumpet, french horn have all also been disposed of, with only a rudimentary knowledge, long since lost.
:)

By: Katie Roche

Katie Roche — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:19:47 +0000

I too have a banjo I never learned to play. A hand-me-down from my grandfather. He never played it either. I tried to tune it once and one of the strings broke and wounded me. It remains in the corner collecting dust.

By: JoeS

JoeS — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:34:19 +0000

I have a harmonica and a nose flute collecting dust, and a seldom used piano.

Can I have the banjo and accordion?

By: jennapants

jennapants — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:05:54 +0000

i think in total we have 2 acoustics, 2 electrics, a bass, a mandolin (no one knows how to use this), 2 amps, an egg shaker, a crappy bongo set (avery’s not half bad), a calypso drum (i’m not kidding), a flute (i was good once), a piece of crap that was a flute (it was my sisters), some maracas, a harmonica (we don’t know how to play, but i think it came with how-to video and a head strap thingy, just in case brent got really good and had to play it whilst playing guitar), a spoon and washboard and a jaw harp…obviously.

all, with the exception of brent’s Taylor, were gifts.

ironically, we are not very musical people.

By: andrea_jennine

andrea_jennine — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:44:56 +0000

Electric organ, recently inherited from my grandpa.

We do play our piano (me) and guitar and bass guitar (husband).

By: drewB

drewB — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:40:16 +0000

Instruments that I own but don’t play (at least as much as I should):

1. PRS Santana SE
2. Larrivee D10
3. Samick (Epiphone Dot)
4. Alvarez Folk Guitar (smaller than a Grand Concert)

Instruments I play more than I should:

1. Steering wheel drumset
2. Guitar Hero Guitar
3. Tate’s Xylophone (“Diadone” according to him)
4. Nose trumpet (it’s been dry lately)

By: Courtney

Courtney — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:40:47 +0000

I agree with the above comments, Orison needs to take piano lessons. Maybe you all should actually. We have a piano and guitar. My hubs is painstakingly learning to play guitar and I plan to start our oldest on the piano very soon. Both hubs and I HAD to take piano as kids and as much as we hated it, it’s one of those things I’m grateful for in hindsight.

By: Tony C

Tony C — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:22:08 +0000

harmonica, violin, trumpet

By: Phoebe

Phoebe — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:20:02 +0000

Actually, Orison is just the right age to start piano lessons. Just be careful choosing a teacher. Ask around. Ask them if you can observe their lessons before you start. See if they are professional in their approach and if their students are making good progress. PIano lessons are a great opportunity when the teacher is good and the parents are dedicated.