I learnt music (mostly Rabindra Sangeet) from my childhood till 8th grade from a music teacher near my house. I feel, it is very important to have a guru who can point out mistakes and groom us to be technically correct.
I did a 6-yr Diploma in Rabindra Sangeet from Allahabad (Sangeet Prabhakar) and I can play harmonium. Once I reached 9th grade, my parents asked me to concentrate on my studies and from that time, music became history for me although I sang in a couple of college fests. Now, I am in the US and with a full-time job, I hardly get time to practise. My only audience is my husband and bathroom.