My grandfather played violin, and concertina. Dad learned violin from his father at an early age and managed a US Army symphony overseas before heading back home, getting married and raising a family.
Dad worked his way through college (the first of his generation to gain a higher education) by playing square dances at local dance halls, then after college for a brief time he taught all instruments at a school on Long Island.
He gave us not only rented and owned instruments, he gave us music, music from his family for all to sing and enjoy. My grandfather died weeks before I was born, a refugee from Germany. I don’t think Dad even got his violin, concertina, or accordion after he died because three of my grandparents died before I was a year old, and he sold his father’s home fully furnished with his Dad’s carpentry intact.
I’ve given up guitar for the time being, but am still interested and studying on my own without the guitar. I’m listening, now music from Crazy Heart, but am working out the tunes in my head. I don’t have the skill yet to play them as I’d like but want some time alone to figure things out and decide if/when I’ll return, and to whom, after some music theory kicks in. See, Dad had that.
I was dumb enough to give it up at age 12 because the mall was more interesting. I grew up in a small village and had never seen a mall! And going for a couple of hours after school with girlfriends was great, especially after I could buy an extra shirt or pair of jeans with months of saved babysitting money!
Our Edelweiss
Everyone, even the poor, had multiple talents in those days. The rich had pianos in their homes but everyone learned a musical instrument. Thanks, grandfather I never got to meet, and thanks Dad, for introducing me to music via records and instruments. I love you, Dee
Cooking with Dee 
My grandfather has the accordion. His mother is to the right, and my grandmother is far right, up in the Adirondacks many years ago. Aunt Betty’s on the left with the binoculars. Don’t know who took the photo, probably Dad!
What an interesting history you have! Honestly, I think I’m probably the first person in my extended family to have asked for music lessons (at the age of 12). No one had a clue. Good for you that you’re taking it up now. I pass my piano every day and think, “I should sit down and play,” but don’t. Beautiful photograph…
My family didn’t do music; our generation was the first for piano lessons. They didn’t stick when I was a kid, but I came back to music as an adult.
Lots of guitar and singing yesterday in church, and I played in a trio last night at a fund raiser! Accordion, guitar, mandolin…I played the guitar and it was Irish music. Fun!