If not piano... so?

[ladychopin]

If you weren't playing the piano, what instrument were you playing? and why?
for me it would be the cello, because you play with it close to your body, you can feel it better than the piano who is standing apart from you, you hold it between your legs (sexy) and it's sound is the most beautiful thing in the world! (after the piano )

[outin]

If you weren't playing the piano, what instrument were you playing? and why?
for me it would be the cello, because you play with it close to your body, you can feel it better than the piano who is standing apart from you, you hold it between your legs (sexy) and it's sound is the most beautiful thing in the world! (after the piano )

Well, I have done flute and electric guitar, so that would leave harp, cello, sax, bass guitar or bagpipe in that order...I don't really care for the sound of other instruments...

[patrickd]

I was learning the Saxophone only to be in the school band when I was in sixth grade. However if I were to learn another instrument aside from the piano I would pick the cello.

[ladychopin]

i have learnd the sax and guitar as well, but i wouldn't return to them.

[mahlermaniac]

If not piano, then no instrument at all. No other instrument has given me the drive to learn music, to sit down with the basics and learn how to read music. To want to persist when I've given up twice before. I have tried two previously....guitar and flute, and these did not last. I like the sounds of many instruments, but none better than the piano. If not piano, then I would simply continue to listen to music rather than play it

[49410enrique]

hmm body percussion perhaps?

[iansinclair]

Well... if I could have the room in the house, I'd have a good organ (I suppose if I had the money I could have a modern digital organ with a sound system to match... not quite as large anyway) as well as my pianos.  But I don't have anything like the room it would take -- and I'm not at all sure that the structure of the house would take it anyway!

[perprocrastinate]

If not piano, then I would be torn apart by the harpsichord and the violin.

[hfmadopter]

My first instrument was accordion, I took accordion lesson in a music school as a child for five years. I later took up piano as a young adult. If to have a third instrument it would most certainly  be organ and I wouldn't mind learning a stringed instrument, if there was no such thing as keyed instruments perhaps.. Once I thought I'd like sax but I have no interest in that now.

I just did the winter major tuning of my piano in time for my Christmas performance on Christmas Eve . I will touch it up next weekend. But I was thinking, I have so much effort invested in the piano in my life, not sure there is room for another instrument !

[evitaevita]

Well, I've never played any other instruments except for piano, but cello is by far my favourite one.
I love its charming sound. Generally, I prefer strings than wind instruments for various reasons. So, my second option would be violin or viola. The only wind instrument that I'd like to learn is saxophone.

Nevertheless, the reality is that I can't imagine my life without piano. I love music generally, but no other instrument has made me feel as piano does.

[the89thkey]

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to learn another instrument. But I love the sound of the cello. If piano didn't exist...(what a horrible thought)...I would learn the cello most likely.

[indianajo]

I've bought an electric organ, which allows me more tonal flexibility. It also allows me to play JS Bach three staff pieces that might sound good on piano but no pedal harpsichord attachment has shown up on craigslist or in the shopper papers in the 31 years I've owned a piano.  It is a Hammond H100 tonewheel model, I've put 71 capacitors in it, and it will probably work long after I stop working, until someone hauls it to the dump for lack of interest. 
I gave up piano lessons age 15 to concentrate on the bassoon, which is a band and orchestral instrument that gets a lot of wonderful solos and accents.  However, in a non school setting, there is nobody competent to play with.  There is a very sloppy town band, but after performing in a high school setting with people as good as my friends and teacher were,  not even my college football band was good enough to put up with.  Also, beater school refuge bassoons are about $4000, and the new ones are $10000 to $30000.  So there is a whole skill set gone to waste. I made All State band in 1968.  I had just bought my $3200 piano 6 months before  I visited the Heckel bassoon factory in 1982 and was offered catalog prices of only $4400.  Bad error, not to buy one while the mark was down against the dollar. I picked up a $150 school surplus bassoon (Conn) for $150 last year but some keys are bent, the bocal is missing, and the butt is such a swamp of slime that I am looking for a hardwood log to start over with and replace it.
I tried guitar, learned about 8 chords but couldn't graduate from inaudible nylon strapless model to a stand up steel string model.   I like the repretoire, particularly the electric variety, but my fingers don't build callouses. 10 years as a factory mechanic, no callouses on my hands.  Look at Cher's face at age 69 and guess why. It is not all plastic surgery, not all that soft skin. I'm of similar ethnicity.  

[vsrinivasa]

I play violin, flute, and cello as well as piano. However, I really want to learn clarinet. I love the way the instrument sounds and how you control the sound. After that, maybe viola, but since I already play violin and like it better I thought learning viola would be a bit of a waste. The arpeggione might be a good instrument, though a bit outdated. Learning to play oboe wouldn't be such a bad idea either.

[nocturnetr]

Harp oder Guitar.

[mahlermaniac]

I actually have to update this, because my answer has changed. It's not an "instead of piano" but an "in addition to".

Over the weekend at random I became really into Native American music. (I often get streaks where I'm addicted to a certain genre or composer/artist/band). I've decided that in a couple years I am going to get a Native American flute. It's relatively easy to learn to play. The sound is so unique and haunting.

But really, I would have given up on playing any musical instrument at all if it weren't for the piano. The piano will likely always be my first and greatest love, with the Native Amerian flute being a fun little diversion, and a way for me to play music while away from home.

[hfmadopter]

I actually have to update this, because my answer has changed. It's not an "instead of piano" but an "in addition to".

Over the weekend at random I became really into Native American music. (I often get streaks where I'm addicted to a certain genre or composer/artist/band). I've decided that in a couple years I am going to get a Native American flute. It's relatively easy to learn to play. The sound is so unique and haunting.

But really, I would have given up on playing any musical instrument at all if it weren't for the piano. The piano will likely always be my first and greatest love, with the Native Amerian flute being a fun little diversion, and a way for me to play music while away from home.

I've had an interest in these as well. I recently saw a show called How It's Made where they constructed one of these. Beautiful sound. I often wondered where that willowy haunting sound came from in recordings, now I know.

[ladychopin]

well, good for you

[thalbergmad]

I probably play my banjos more than piano now.

Just love them.

Thal

[hfmadopter]

well, good for you

I don't know if you are being facetious or not.

 Well anyway, in a sense I've found a new instrument. My MP6 digital piano which is offering me string accompaniment that I never expected to fall in love with but have. Especially for new age types of music and pop. Kawai has implimented the string pads well. I'm loving my Kawai MP6 but almost thinking now maybe I should have gone for the Korg or Yamaha synth I was looking at and done more with instrumental orchestration ! Whole new niche for me, loving it.

The latest song I'm working on in this style is Secret Garden's, Nocturne.

Of course I still love my grand too.

[ladychopin]

no! I truly meant it! I wish I had the time and courage to play on another instrument while loop I'm playing the piano .. I played piano and guitar and the same time for about 2 year and I couldn't continue because I felt I could use the time I'm practicing the guitar on piano (the piano always has been my "true love" )
I will love to play the cello and I'm sure it will give me alot (especially improve my hearing) but I chose to master piano playing, and that take alot of hour every day, but those are happy hour
maybe in the future (though, I'm scared it will ruin my fingers!)

Maya

[hfmadopter]

no! I truly meant it! I wish I had the time and courage to play on another instrument while loop I'm playing the piano .. I played piano and guitar and the same time for about 2 year and I couldn't continue because I felt I could use the time I'm practicing the guitar on piano (the piano always has been my "true love" )
I will love to play the cello and I'm sure it will give me a lot (especially improve my hearing) but I chose to master piano playing, and that take a lot of hour every day, but those are happy hour
maybe in the future (though, I'm scared it will ruin my fingers!)

Maya

Piano is certainly beautiful, so is cello though in it's own way ( such mellow heart wrenching tone). I wouldn't know where to begin with selecting a cello, never mind play it ( models, tone etc.) ! The bottom line, if music is in you you will make beautiful music at your given level, I think regardless of the instrument you choose. I believe both cello and piano require a lifetime of duty to master ! Also, IMO, more so than guitar, though it requires it's own dedication as well.

Hey I forgot about my ukulele I had when I was a kid. Didn't fare so well on that !

[ranniks]

Violin!

[ming304]

I've learned the trumpet and some double bass, and violin a long time ago.
I'd really like to start learning the violin again. OMG it's so beautfiul!!! 

[justharmony]

Well... interesting thread.  I play a lot of instruments - piano is my first and true love, though I've discovered historic instruments, too - historic pianos are IN-CRE-DI-BLE to experience - hear in person, and play, if possible.  AMAZING things come out of the instruments that our favorite composers were actually writing for.  I don't have much opportunity to play such instruments though, aside from harpsichord (which I do have).

I also play (in order of proficiency): violin, guitar, hand drums and other percussion, like castanets, ukulele, cura saz (fantastic little instrument with 19 frets per octave - woo hoo!), native american flute, ocarina and I recently acquired a South American bamboo flute that I have not yet learned to play, but has a wonderfully deep and rich sound.  Also have a banjo that needs a little work that I haven't gotten to yet, but look forward to.  Let's see, what else?  Also acquired a tourist grade gusle - which was cool to learn about but not so much to play (bowed instrument from yugoslavia area).  Looks way cooler than it sounds.  Hmm...am I missing anything?  Lol.  I'm insatiable, and kind of an instrument junkie - can you tell?   

When I run across something interesting with a nice sound at a thrift store or garage sale or something, I'm pretty much hooked.  Especially if the instrument is not one with which I'm immediately familiar - just more of a pull to get it, even if it's only to figure out what the heck it is. 

My little cura saz, for instance, I got for about 6 bucks if I recall right.  No one else knew what it was, either, I guess.  Needed a bridge (which I made) and new strings (half were missing), but it was obviously a real instrument of decent quality.  And hey, for six bucks, how can I lose, right? It's a fun and provacative little instrument. 

So, there you go.  If I had to add to that list... well, I probably will at some point.  I'm not a huge wind fan, but I love oboe (not much desire to play one, though).  Love cello, too.  LOVE it.  But would rather listen than play.  Organ is AMAZING but not very accessible in practical terms.  It might be the only instrument that is actually HARDER to learn to play than piano.   

I suppose my list will go wherever destiny takes me! 

JH