My keyboard play/pause and forward/backward buttons suddenly do not work for controlling iTunes

Jeff Hunt1,

You can also try a SMC reset, follow the directions for a battery that you can remove yourself, or a battery which you should NOT remove yourself...whichever applies to your machine.

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) - Apple Support

Also if no joy you can try a NVRAM/Pram reset.

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Option, Command (⌘), P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3. Turn on your Mac.
4. Immediately press and hold the Option-Command-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears. Continue holding the keys down until your Mac restarts, and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
5. Release the keys.

Resetting PRAM may change some system settings and preferences. Use System Preferences to restore your settings

Hey Jeff,

It sounds like the keyboard function keys settings was changed. Check in System Preferences > Keyboard and in the Keyboard tab there should be an option to “Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys” and that option needs to be uncheck so you can use the keys as they are shown on the keyboard.

How to change the behavior of function keys on your Mac

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT3399

Take care,

-Norm G.

Hello Jeff,

That would be the only thing that I could think of software wise that would cause that. It sounds like a deeper issue and you will want to contact Apple either over the phone or making an appointment at the Genius Bar at one of the Apple Retail Store. Take a look at the link below to get you started.

Contact Apple Support

https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action

-Norm G.