New Bard w/ some questions

[chey]

Hey all, I'm new-ish to the game and Green server and enjoying my time here after finally settling on a class. The utility, supportive toolset, and active playstyle of a bard really appeals to me; the only problem is, it seems like an easy class to play poorly. So I figured it's better to ask questions now, when I'm level 6, than not know something vital later.

#1: What stats should I prioritize when I can get gear? I've read that DEX affects procs and missing notes, and that CHA affects lulls/charms, which both seem pretty important. Anything else I should know?

#2: In a party, should I be meleeing, or using instruments? I've read some conflicting opinions over this, with some people deriding 'lazy bards' who only use instruments, and others saying that the boost from the instrument is a better help than a bard's wimpy melee DPS.

#3: What's a good duo partner for a Bard?