50 in 50: Relationship with Music

I didn't start listening to music, and having my own collection, until I was about fourteen I think, after I was introduced to Rammstein by a friend at school. It started with six songs. I know R.E.M.'s Losing my Religion was on there, as well as Wolves Lower, It's the End of the World as We Know it (And I Feel Fine). I'm not sure what the rest were. Over time, I build this collection up to over two thousand songs, but then ended up getting rid of it all. I decided to stop listening to music so much, thinking it bad of me to be doing it all the time.

Now I am an adult, I've started to build up the collection again. Currently it is at some 750. I like to listen to music on the train to work, however also I think there is a lot of pleasure in not listening to music, and just hearing the birds sing, or the people chatter around oneself. I'm not sure at the moment how much it is good to, and when it is good to, listen to music.

In terms of playing music, I used to play violin and guitar. I dropped violin at the age of 12 or so, thinking it was a bit lame. It was done because I thought others perceived it that way, not because I didn't enjoy it. In reality, I really do like violin. The joy of being a child, though, is making silly decisions based on how you think others perceive you.

For guitar, I carried on with lessons until I was fifteen or so. Then I stopped, and frankly I was happy to, as the lessons were a bit of a drag, and I didn't really want to do them. I also didn't really practise all that much for them.

Now I am an adult, I am trying to pick up music again. I have tried the guitar, and played it here and there over the course of the last few years. I got the mandolin last Christmas, and am playing it much more - though still not as much as I would like. I am busy with many things, though, so that is fine. I also want to start playing the violin again, and maybe take lessons, too. I don't imagine I will ever be world class in either of these two instruments, but I also would like to be about to play a few tunes here and there.