I started on piano at the age of five. My parents bought and fully restored a 1903 Kurtzman Cabinet Grand (Upright Piano) for me to play--Damn that was a beautiful piano I stayed with piano, and at a young age started playing with synths (Juno's, ect).

I then started playing drums when I was quite young as well. (began with lessons on just the snare drum--and eventually played in my gradeshcool band-junior high school marching band. Been playing drums ever since. Luckily I have had an advantage when it comes to keyboard drumming

I started playing guitar at a young age too. My uncle showed me a few chords on his vintage Fender acoustic. My first 3 chords learned were D/A/G. After that I was hooked, and went to my father with big puppy dog eyes and he bought me my first Fender acoustic (had to be like my uncle and buy a Fender)

After a few months on the acoustic I picked up on it really quick. So my father then bought me a Fender Strat, and since then have owned many makes and models of both acoustic, electric, and bass guitars.

Having seven brothers and sisters helped out too. They all dabbled in various instruments--taking lessons here and there. So when they got bored with them, the instruments were passed down to me to fool around with. I've dabbled with the Tenor Sax, Flute, Violin, and Trumpet. I made it a point to learn some basics on these instruments and how they function. I'm glad I did because I used what I learned and apply it to modern synth/workstations. That in turns helps me to better emulate a particular instrument.

So it all started with the piano for me, and trickled down into other instruments. So I would have to say yes to this question. Starting with the piano, and playing other instruments prior to owning arrangers have helped me in my own abilities.

Squeak