I come from a relatively musical family, my mother learned Piano in school, and my father has learned to play a number of instruments, including accordion, and the clarinet. My brother had a number of organ lessons in the late 80's, then had a hiatus from music for years. He later learned to play guitar. A couple of years ago we inherited a piano, and he has become very good at ad lib playing - making up a tune as he goes along.
I myself learned to play the recorder in school, as did everyone who went to my primary school. Then in year 6 I was offered the chance to learn trumpet, which I accepted. I was a bit miffed because I would have preferred to learn Clarinet, but all the places for that instrument were taken. I continued learning to play trumpet up until year 10, at which point I quit for a number of reasons. Reason 1 being that I dropped out of school that year due to poor health. Another key reason, was that I had learned to play trumpet 'the wrong way', in that to get to higher notes, I was pressing the mouth piece harder and harder against my lips. At the end of each session, I could press my tongue on the back of my teeth, and feel them moving back into position. Not a good sign.
During those same years, I also played the organ quite a bit (we have an electronic one in case anyone is thinking of a pipe organ). Since we inherited the piano, I have taken it up as well. It took me quite a while to really get into playing the piano however as my brother's skill with it tends to put me off. I finally got into it properly because I set myself a task of learning two particular songs that I wanted to play.
I went to a music store and found the two songs I wanted, brought them home and immediately began learning them. So now, I'm getting quite good at playing Pachabel's Cannon in D, and Speak Softly, Love (from the Godfather). I have played them nearly every day since I bought them. Of course, now I'm getting a bit sick of them... I need to find something else I want to learn.
I spend a lot of my time listening to music, especially while surfing the net. Artists that I like include:
The Rise and only the Rise. I don't like crowds, and I don't like playing sardines. This puts me at odds with most club-goers. Couple that with my left over insomnia symptoms from having CFS, and you can perhaps understand why when I go clubbing, I generally go on my own, get in before anybody else is ready to leave home, dance on the empty dance floor, and leave when the place gets busy around midnight.