I started on the piano and recorder at the age of 5 and the oboe at 7. Despite being the best musician in my primary school year group and loving performing I was banned from the primary school choir because I couldn't sing in tune.
So at secondary school I was surprised to find myself in the "better" choir - and I loved it. I carried on at school with both my instruments and singing, and the recorder as a bit of fun on the side (I've told the story recently on here of who I used to play with). I'd also wanted to play the organ for a very long time, so started learning that as well.
Some of my music teachers wanted me to go to music college, but I knew I wanted to go to university for an academic degree. Once there I focused on singing to the exclusion of everything else musical. Eventually I got a church organist gig, but gave that up to earn real money in a profession.
I've always wanted to perform, and eventually found one way to do it, as an occasional organist. (Another way is by giving talks and presentations for work.) The last few months have been brilliant because they've given me the opportunity to practise and go from competent sight reader towards competent player.
I'm lucky because I have the sort of brain that meant I've always been able to sight read and I also get music theory. On the downside that means that I rarely really learn music.
The last couple of holidays we've taken we've taken our consort of recorders and multitracked ourselves. This time I also brought a midi keyboard and yesterday we busked through a Marais suite for two treble instruments and continuo, having recorded the harpsichord part. I'm amazed at what is now available technologically to support music production.
