When I was 6 years old I would always play the old piano in my best friend's front room. My parents finally bought me my own piano. When I was 10 years old, my dad handed me my mother's gibson guitar, (which I still have and it is 60 years old now) He also handed me an Eddy Arnold Music Book. Dad said I could either sit and learn how to play the guitar or go outside and mow the yard. I chose to sit there in the nice central airconditioning and I taught myself the 3 basic chords of C F and G7 and I played Bouquet of Roses. When I was 12 I chose the clarinet for my band instrument. I remember the remark that it was a good instrument because my teeth were crooked in front. Later I wanted to play the oboe. The band director talked me into playing the bassoon. "It is just like an oboe" he told me. Yeah... right. I had to learn to read bass clef and I also had to lug that big thing around. But i am glad I chose to play it. Bassoons stand out in a crowd. I always seemed to get more attention. Especially when we were sight reading one day at contest and I added a note at the end. ooops.