No training or formal lessons tho I did play cymbals in my high school band. My jr year, there was a need for a player, my bf of the first 3 yrs could play any instrument, the director knew we were madly in love, LOL, so no problem to ask me. He just told me to watch him, he would tell me when to hit them til I figured it out and so I did. Marching season was first, I was beside the bass drum player, a good guy that helped me too, so it all worked out and I got to be with my bf on all the bus trips to the the games,come concert season, we had the same arrangement and it all worked out the same too. My last hs yrs we lots of fun, to say the last. No, I never really learned to read music...LOL