Murray makes good sense, as usual. One note about the fiddle, though. My cohabitant started playing about two years ago. She plays piano and has a good ear, but has never played any stringed instrument before. Within a day, she was enjoying herself and within a week, I was enjoying listening to her. She is still playing and I am still enjoying.

Now, I'm both biased about the player and have eclectic tastes in the music that I like (some of which is quite tasteless), so take this for what its worth. But if you pick up a fiddle and it seems to fit, then do it. (And if the fiddle doesn't seem to fit, try calling it a violin and see if it fits better).