I took piano lessons from the neighbor lady up the street when I was about 6 years old and hated it. I didn't understand the notes business and what Every Good Boy Does Fine bologna meant..I just didn't get it.

When I was 8 years old, my Mom brought a violin home from school and presented it as something really fun and wouldn't I like to try it. OF course I wanted to try it...I was the only kid in 3rd grade who got to take music lessons. I played for 8 more years and then the orchestra program was done away with. I was estatic as by that time I hated the violin. I was the queen of excuses when it came to reasons why I couldn't make orchestra practice. I didn't seem to mind all the other extra curricular activities though (band, marching band, basketball, German Club, AV Club, drama, chorus, etc). After graduation though, all things musical came to a halt.

Then came the guitar from my mother-in-law. I didn't really know what to do with it and when I went to a local jam, someone tried to show me a few chords on it and I just wasn't comfortable with it. I did, however, love the music and wanted to play. I knew I had played the violin about 15-17 years prior and thought I'd give that another try. I rented a student violin for a few months until I knew that I really wanted to play. My husband then bought me a violin for a Christmas gift (that I had picked out on eBay). It was nothing fancy but it sounded pretty darn nice for what he paid for it. Finally, about a year and a half later, when I was STILL playing my violin and enjoying it, I visited a local luthier and bought a nice violin...one that will last a lifetime, I hope! I also had the eBay violin fitted with strings that are an octive lower so I have a "chin cello." I have some other instruments as well, but I have to say that my violin is my favorite. :)

I think I gave you way more than you wanted to know..but what the heck?!?!? :)

Do you play any other instruments?

Michelle