Hey Douglas,
Was it one after the other (shall we add the periods) or several simultaneously? I worry about your age..
Cheers
PhC
I think the analogy holds up well, reading (music); writing(playing); I tried playing pachelbel’s canon on my pipes just to see how far I could go ( as a newbie, you gotta ask, why, oh why?)
not to worry, I’m fillipino, both sides o’ the family
It seems as if long ago, there was quite a Rakish Paddy that did quite a bit of traveling. I understand he was quite attractive to the ladies everywhere he visited..
Douglas, tapping your pregnant wife sounds hilarious. Its well known that many Catholics have no sense of rhythm, much to the Pope’s chagrin. 
djm
Started on piano (we’ll ignore my time on the bongos, thanks) and spent seven years deceiving my teachers that I could read music until it caught up with me; then guitars, noodled around on rcrd*rs, fifes and whistles; now it’s narrowed down to trad flute, cittern and uilleann pipes (barely), in that order. Arguably, whatever instrument I play, I simultaneously play havoc.
Ah, seems like I’m the odd one here, as I’ve never played anything… now I can read music (somewhat) and… well, here I am, trying to do the impossible, learning how to practice learning how to play the pipes (no typo here.)
edit (out)
Looks like I’m the only organist or pedal steel guitarist. I’m by nature attracted to confusion and complication.
I’ve played guitar guitar, too, bass guitar, viola/violin/cello badly, various keyboards. Used to play the piano accordion with some Highland pipers. That was a sound! Also have various whistles, and am waiting on a new old flute that I hope won’t be as unplayable as my Ralph Sweet flute has always been. Also have some NSP’s I should work on harder, and a set of Paki GHB that looks good on the wall of my living room.
I grew up listening to my dad knocking out tunes on the piano all night long. He and his brothers all played sax, trumpet and the like, too.
I come from a pretty long line of singers and musicians, although as far as I know, I’m the first piper in the family. My great-grandfather was apparently quite a talented multi-instrumentalist and played in John Philip Sousa’s band. He, like me, played the simple system flute, although seeing as how he was from Denmark, I don’t think he played any jigs and reels on it. His flute is apparently still in the family and I’d love to get my greedy little hands on it.
My maternal grandfather and my father are both fantastic baritone singers. My grandfather recorded a bit for NBC radio in the '50s. In spite of such a pedigree, I hardly ever sing at all…except when I’m totally ripped and dragged off to sing karaoke by “encouraging” friends.
Started out on the piano when I was four, quit when I was about twelve and immediately regretted it. I’ve tried to get back into it but with only marginal success. Started playing trombone after I quit piano. I got pretty good at that and spent my teenage years playing in youth symphonies, concert bands, jazz bands, etc. I don’t play it quite so often now, but I still love playing it and the sound of the trombone in general. J.J. Johnson is the man…
Started on Highland pipes and whistle when I was sixteen. I was fortunate enough to meet Hamish Moore about two weeks after my first lesson and that kinda sealed the deal. I’ve been hooked ever since. Began wrestling with the flute at 18…continually fantasized about UPs when, considering my age, I should have been fantasizing about other things…Finally got started on the UPs at 22 and have been feverishly making up for lost time ever since.
These days I spend most of my time just on the flute and uilleann pipes.
I’ve dabbled with other instruments as well (i.e. I can strum the odd chord on guitar but have never owned one). Last year, a friend leaving Japan willed me his bass guitar, so I mess about with that a bit, try to pretend I’m Peter Hook or Bruce Thomas and do lots of silly high fret stuff. I wouldn’t say I “play” the bass though…Also fool around with the shakuhachi from time to time, but I’d probably have to ditch everything else if I wanted to seriously study it.
So, to boil all that down, I mostly play uilleann pipes and flute.
in the past? flute, keyboard and guitar. also ssp.
i am finding the ups slightly overwhelming and don’t really have time to keep up anything else. except of course, whistle.
when i had only a suprano whistle, i would use it like some of you others say, just to get tunes in my head so my repetoire stays way ahead of my up skills. frankly, i find it a little shrill. however, since i have aquired my low whistle, the sound is so cool i regard it as a worthy pursuit in its own right- so i am ready for those times when friends want to hear me play something and my reed is misbehaving.
meir
When I was coming up I played the organ and drums (from 6th grade through High School). In the late 70s I found a near-perfect union of the two in the Hammer Dulcimer. Have been playing Irish and Old Time ever since, experimenting with other styles occasionally; also dabbling about with whistle and Bodhran. I’ve been playing the pipes (in my head) since I first heard recorded versions of Seamus Ennis and Paddy Keenan in the mid 70s. I finally gave in and started with a practce chanter June of this year. It is such a joy! I only wish I had started it years ago! 
Rick
I personally don’t think it would have happened 10-15 years ago. UP were more scarce then out here in California. I had a practice set with a Kiernan chanter that went south/north??? ( everything leaked and I didn’t know what to do with the reed). Without WWW.etc and the ability to ask for help, I know I would not have found the good folks in Southern California that play.
funny that the didgeridoo is mentioned several times.
I started with self made tubes by covering a tree branche with a kind of polyester. After removing the branche I got a “didgeridoo” with the volume of the tree branche. I play the low pitch, which is different for every horn.
I also perform on a plastic didgeridoo bij pulling out a 30 meter long and 30 cm wide rolled band up to a 1 to 5 meter long horn.
Maybe that;s why I’am interested in drones