It’s no secret I love music. If you’re here, you probably figured that out. When I was younger, I played about 10 different instruments but ended up stopping before college. My piano didn’t fit into my tiny compact car. But honestly that’s the fun about now being an adult. I can pick it all up again and play whatever I want without any homework or music grades.

Here are the instruments I currently have in my collection

Piano / Keyboard

My main instrument. Of all the instruments I’ve ever played, I played piano the longest. I was always told that I would never play as my fingers are short, but I didn’t let that stop me. I’ve learned to reduce music in a way that doesn’t hurt my hands or fingers so I can play regardless of my hands.

My Alesis Recital Pro is full-sized 88-keys with weighted hammer action so it feels like a traditional piano. This thing is a beast. It is portable but it’s got some good weight to it, so it generally kind of stays put. I throw a sheet over it to keep all the pet fur off it. This one has extra ports in the back so I can listen on headphones and record at the same time.

• Brand: Alesis
• Model: Recital Pro
• Range: full 88-keys
• Useful features: Weighted hammer action
• Output: Analog
• Fun features: different instrument sounds

Xylophone

I never really played xylophone before, unless you count the kid’s metal one (which is technically a glockenspiel, not a xylophone). I just felt like picking it up one day and I play it quite a bit. It’s basically like a big piano except I get to smack it. I started with a basic one and eventually moved up to a nicer desktop model in the largest size you could find. This thing is a beast and nearly as large as my piano. Eventually I want to build custom resonator tubes for it.

Now I just need to figure out the best way to record this in a house and not a studio.

• Brand: Adams Academy
• Type: Desktop xylophone
• Range: 3½ octaves
• Material: light rosewood

Bb Fife

Like the caption says, an actual fife. I’ve visited Williamsburg’s historical town quite a number of times, and if there’s music, I want to see it. I eventually bought a recreation of a traditional fife. I did play it for a while when I was younger though I haven’t much since then. I am having trouble arranging music for the fife due to its limited range. I’ll find something eventually.

• Range: 1½ octaves
• Key: Bb (transposed)
• Material: maple

Novelty instruments

I am kind of a sucker for novelty instruments. They’re not very practical and geared more towards kids, but who doesn’t like a good anime instrument?

Pretty Cure Max Heart xylophone

Though technically it’s a glockenspiel as it’s metal, I was stoked to find that Pretty Cure had a few instruments. I found only one listing used, so I imagine this thing is pretty hard to find. It’s got a plastic edge with metal keys and a plastic mallet that clips onto the back for storage. It only plays C major. I’m not sure how many songs I can adapt to this, but I’m sure going to try.