The Story Of The Piano

Since its birth in the early 18th century, pianos have become one of the most treasured and respected musical instruments on the planet. They are warm and classy instruments and absolutely nothing can match their sound quality.

The name ‘piano’ is a shortened form of the original Italian name for the instrument, ‘pianoforte’, which we usually say means ‘soft’ and ‘loud’. This refers to the piano’s capability of playing either very softly or very loudly, depending on how much strength the player puts into his or her fingers. Pianos are very responsive to touch, giving you full control over the sound. The pedals at the bottom of the piano are used to make the sounds either short and ‘staccato’ or long and connected, or ‘legato’. Piano players do this by stepping on the pedals while they are playing. The result is that the player can change the sound a great deal, making it possible to have a wide range of ways to express themselves.

Today there are a lot of piano substitutes in the form of electronic keyboards and other machines, but nothing can replace the real thing. Pianos get their warm and delicate sound from using a felt-covered hammer that strikes against steel strings which are set in rows inside the instrument. When you press a key, the hammer strikes against the corresponding string and vibrates it. This produces a rich tone which cannot be copied, even with today’s technology. Even today, recording artists go to great lengths to find real pianos to use in their recordings, simply because the sound produced by the acoustic string-hammer model is impossible to copy.

Pianos are versatile not only because of their expressiveness, but also because pianos can be used in so many different genres of music. At first glance, when somebody says ‘piano’ you might think of music from the Baroque, Classical or Romantic periods – music like that of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, or Chopin. These composers knew how to make the piano do amazing things, and to learn to play their pieces yourself is a truly inspiring experience. But piano playing is certainly not limited to these masters. Perhaps equally admired are the legends of jazz and blues who brought music in a completely new direction for the 20th century. Pianists like Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and Thelonius Monk brought a new world of sound to the piano by bending and breaking the ‘rules’ of music. Today, their music lives on as proof of the piano’s timelessness and the magic of its sound.

In present day music, pianos are still used in rock, pop, jazz, blues, reggae, funk, soul – almost any genre you can come up with, along with even hip hop and metal. When you learn to play piano in one style, it will become astonishingly easy to swiftly learn to play other genres due to the fact that your fingers are going to be used to the keys and your understanding of music will likely have improved noticeably. Unlike other instruments, the piano lets you see exactly what note you happen to be touching because the keys are there right before your eyes.

Yet another amazing advantage of the piano over other instruments is its polyphony. While musicians who play saxophone, flute, trumpet, and clarinet must be content to play melodies of 1 note after another, a pianist has the capability to play chords containing as many notes as they have fingers – and sometimes more. This is one of the reasons why the piano has long been the instrument of choice for such a large number of the world’s outstanding musicians.

It’s possible that the most fulfilling part about getting a piano is the fact that it is possible to sit down at it, at any time of the day, and play a gorgeous, age-old instrument. Regardless of whether you would prefer to take on a music teacher or study piano on your own by means of training books and courses, getting an instrument that’s a joy to play is among the most crucial parts about encouraging yourself to continue. Nothing is more enjoyable than possessing your own personal piano in your own home, where both you and your family and friends or children can take pleasure in it.

If you have kids, you will know how advantageous it really is to stimulate them musically from the time they are very young. A lot of people regret not having learnt to play piano as a kid, so it’s a good idea to give your children this option and they’re going to thank you in the years to come. It is also well recognized that musical development can offer neurological benefits in other areas – what this means is that by playing piano often, you or your children can increase their mental ability too!

Perhaps you have seen pianos being played at weddings or other occasions. There is something very special about having someone playing piano in the background. It might be the cool, lazy chords of smooth jazz, or perhaps an elegant Mozart prelude, or even something you have composed yourself. Imagine being able to enjoy this atmosphere in your own home. Learning to play piano will provide hours of beautiful music, making your home an inviting and creatively inspiring place to be.

A piano will open up avenues to wonderful new musical choices. The decision to acquire a piano is a large one, but well worth the time and effort.

For the best deal on pianos, visit your local music store. Alternatively visit www.morrisbrothersmusicstore.com to find the best deals that an online music store can offer.