I played violin for 15 years and continue to do so casually. I've played in a bunch of orchestras and ensembles and I've found that my knowledge of classical music and experience with playing in big multi-instrument ensembles actually helps me layer sounds together/determine when other parts should take over the melody and when the rest of the parts consequently form the harmony. Also I learned some counterpoint and music theory and all that jazz as a result. Granted, the music I'm getting into producing is more of a Hans Zimmer inspired orchestral sort of thing (so my background might not help with other styles), but I would imagine that it could help in something harder, but more melodic as well.

Never played an instrument in my life, and in fact I always told myself through music class in elementary school I hated music and had no musical talent.

In 8th grade I took a General Music course (either an art or music was required, and I can't even draw a stick figure). Tried to play the guitar in class and gave up, absolutely hated it, never paid attention.

I love producing music now. I can spend endless hours experimenting and enjoying myself. Funny how life works.

Short answer:
At 10 yo we started playing flute in school. Now I play a fuckton of instruments on Kontakt.

Long answer:
After some years I was trying to learn by myself how to play a small old electric piano we had at home. I didn't learn that much, only how to play notes and melodies. At 15 yo I learned by myself how to play acoustic guitar, but I played mainly chords with it and the most important thing I learned was the importance of rhythm and assonance of sounds. In the same period I learned how to tune my guitar by ear by using only an E note reference (this helped me develop a sort of Interval Ear). Then I wanted to learn how to play piano better, but I failed miserably and instead of learning how to play piano in general I learned to play by memory only some Linkin Park songs. And I have an electric guitar too.

I have self taught myself piano since I was very young. Always had an electronic keyboard around the house. Before I got into the whole DAW deal i actually made little sequences on a Nintendo DS game called KORG DS-10. Basically a virtual analog synth. It was very interesting and taught me a lot about sequencing loops an stuff. So i guess you could say I played the DS synth too haha 

HA! Black sheep here. I tried, I really did. Piano mostly, guitar and even some flutes lol. ...and failed miserably every time. I know how those instruments work, how the theory works (mostly), I know what to press, but for some reason no matter how many times I play the piece again and again (like for years ), I mess it up at some point every time. I got heavily depressed about it at times, considering quitting the hobby all together, but then I thought: F**k it. I can't perform. Whatever. That can't stop me from producing.

...funny enough, I still play all the notes in my tracks on keyboard. But have to admit, I edit them afterwards.

Now that I produce music, I would have love to play guitar and others instruments, but I don't.
And i don't have time to learn. 

When I was very young, I got piano lessons. I wasn't very interested so I quit. Now I regret that decision.

Playing an instrument boosts your music producing, and I'm planning to learn piano again.