From 3rd grade(ish) up through senior year of high school, I was fairly into music. I was in both band and orchestra, and played numerous instruments as well as piano. I was never really great, but was proficient enough and played in a few community orchestras as well for fun. When I went off the college, I kind of dropped it and haven’t touched an instrument in a long time.
By chance recently, I acquired a free upright piano. I thought it would be nice to have around for the kids (since fooling around on a piano is what got me into music myself when I was young). Side note: this plan is somewhat succeeding.
Anyway, it’s pretty apparent to me that I literally forgot everything I knew. I used to know a few pieces from memory, but that’s just like gone from my brain. I tried pulling out my viola, but my hands don’t seem to remember where they go to the point that I probably need finger tape again.
Has anyone else come back to music after not playing for a long time? Any tips?
Forwarding our neighbor’s experience - just start playing some easy things, do maybe an online video course, and you’ll probably notice you’re advancing pretty nicely. Especially comparing to e.g., me, who started from zero at a similar age. It will come back quickly, motoric skills are not like dates in history class. I’d say suppose you know nothing, build up from the basics quickly rather than stress that you can’t play what you could decades ago