Piano first. Cello second. I just love the sound of those instruments. They're so moody and emotional.

Piano, there are some electric pianos that sound pretty good and I can use headphones so neighbors won't have to hear it and they don't take up as much room as a upright or grand piano.

JAMES:
Have you ever taken lessons?

Played cello at school.
Not the most ladylike of instruments ;)
But they do sound lovely.

GINGER:
I'm so jealous. I've always wanted to learn to play the cello. Is it difficult?

Easier than the violin ! Finger positions are the same, but with a violin you have to bend your arm at a strange angle, and it takes a while for brain, fingers and strings to connect -to the dismay of anyone listening ! Cello is more comfortable and because it's a bigger instrument you can feel the wood resonating when you play. I found it quite easy to learn. I had a baby violincello and it was beautiful - it had the most wonderful, warm tone.

Years later I took up the bass guitar - just like a cello but played sideways (and a lot of fun when you plug it into a very loud amp ;) Mom and Dad used to bang on the ceiling when I was in my bedroom thrashing at the strings and rattling all the windows. Ah... happy days !)

Then there were all the brass instruments... but that's another story !

GINGER:
When they were signing everyone up for music lessons at school, I wanted to take up the trumpet or drums, but my mother (spoilsport that she is) decided that it wasn't appropriate for girls to play those instruments so I got stuck with the clarinet. I'm still bitter.

You were very lucky to have been schooled in so many different instruments. Learning music is a gift that I think every child should learn.

I always consider myself fortunate that I came from an artistic and musical family. Everyone played an instrument or sang, including many of my aunts and uncles and my grandfather. Many of them were also painters or craftsmen, and so the arts were always a big part of my life and still are.