At the tender age of ten I started with music lessons for accordeon. I didn't like the instrument, but my mother found it more practical than a piano, which we couldn't afford at this time. After four years of intensive training I abandoned it.
With the boy scouts I switched to guitar and was shown some grips to accompany our singing. First I strummed, but when I was presented a then 60 year old Spanish guitar I started plucking, teaching myself, but this wasn't enough. I stopped with easy Renaissance pieces.
In the church brass band I got a short introduction into the theory of the instruments, the rest was remembrance of musical theory and practice, practice, practice. I performed badly with the trumpet (deformation of upper lip), but when I had changed to the tuba I performed quite well.
It was the same with woodwinds (recorders and historical instruments).
This versatility I owe to my accordeon teacher (may he rest in peace). He gave me a solid knowledge in musical theory which payed off well for the rest of my life.

Wilfried