How do you relearn to play an instrument -- after you gave it up years ago?

Question:I took piano lessons from my mother, a piano teacher from the time I was 8 years old. My parents were strict and cold and forced me to take them. When I was 8 I started listening to songs on the radio and playing them on the piano by ear, complete with chord progressions.My grandmother (dad's mother) told me I had a natural gift and that I should keep playing. She played piano beautifully by ear and often played for community theater productions.
But when my mother heard me, she became very natty and angry and would snap the piano lid shut so I couldn't play anymore.
She only wanted me to adhere to strict sheet music reading which was very difficult for me.
Now I am in my twenties I want to go back where I left off and start playing again but Im not sure where to begin. Im so afraid I have completely lost the gift I had for music.It makes me sick. Has anyone else ever picked it up after giving it up for so long? And if so, how did you do it? Thanks

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I took piano lessons from my mother, a piano teacher from the time I was 8 years old. My parents were strict and cold and forced me to take them. When I was 8 I started listening to songs on the radio and playing them on the piano by ear, complete with chord progressions.My grandmother (dad's mother) told me I had a natural gift and that I should keep playing. She played piano beautifully by ear and often played for community theater productions.
But when my mother heard me, she became very natty and angry and would snap the piano lid shut so I couldn't play anymore.
She only wanted me to adhere to strict sheet music reading which was very difficult for me.
Now I am in my twenties I want to go back where I left off and start playing again but Im not sure where to begin. Im so afraid I have completely lost the gift I had for music.It makes me sick. Has anyone else ever picked it up after giving it up for so long? And if so, how did you do it? Thanks

Hey, don't be afraid of having lost your musical gift!! you didn't! it's a gift! You probably only need 'some' practice again to get the same feeling you had back then...

From the time I was about 7, I have had some 10 years of lessons for playing the organ, and some 6 years on the flute. I quit lessons because I went to University and didn't have a piano and I couldn't wake up my fellowstudents with my flute ;-( and I lost the time.
Now I'm 35, having a family, hubby, three little kids, and we all started music again!! (yeah!)
So: we bought a piano, we dug up our flutes (my lovely hubby plays flute too), (even bought some new instruments like percussion, acoustic guitar and a saxophone) and I started to practice on the piano again and did workshops and courses for the other instruments, to get into the groove again. Now we bought some starter piano books, and I will start to teach our oldest (6) to play piano and read music. She loves to read; and even our youngest (2) is just fiddeling along on the piano.

I loved playing from sheets, and usually can play anything that comes in sight, I had problems with hear-it-play-it.
But if I were you, I would buy a piano, put on your favourite CD's, listen, and copy it on your piano. If it works: go on. And in case you ever want to learn to read music as quick as words, just buy some books and try; or find the courage to ask for a teacher that has the same vision/feel for music and teaching as you have!! Now that you are older, and you know what you want, and are able to find the words, GO for it. You had the courage to ask us here you question....!!!

I took piano lessons when I was 4 and continued them for about 10 years, when I then went on to other instruments.

I have found that, with practice, I am able to pick it back up. I'm not as good as I was, nor as good as I should be.

Get yourself a piano - or a place that has a piano you can practice on - and start with some easy sheet music. If you play better by ear, then start doing that. You might want to talk to a teacher and work with stuff they give you.

I also put away my viola for 5 years, then took it back up. I'm finding that, with practice, much of what I learned is coming back to me. Like riding a bike - it's all coming back bit by bit.

Just practice, practice, practice.

Good luck!

Get an experienced music teacher who can empathise how you feel and work with you to learn to play! Noboby ever looses the gift of music it has just been forgotton for a little while! After a while with a good teacher you will start to love it again and not associate it with your mother!