by Sean Ryder
Since the beginning of the 18th century, pianos have come to be among the most valued musical instruments in the world. They're warm and exquisite instruments and practically nothing can top the sound they create.
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 simply because of their expressiveness, but also because pianos may be used in a great number of distinct genres of music. At first glance, when somebody says 'piano' you may imagine music from the Baroque, Classical or Romantic periods - music such as that of Beethoven, Bach, Chopin or Mozart. These brilliant musicians knew how to make the piano do wonderful things, and to learn to play their pieces on your own can be a totally inspiring experience. But playing piano is of course not limited to these masters. Pianists like Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and Thelonius Monk brought a whole new domain of sound to the piano by way of bending and breaking the 'rules' of the music of earlier times. Nowadays, their music lives on as proof of the piano's timelessness as well as the power of the sounds it creates.
In modern music, pianos are still used in rock, pop, jazz, blues, reggae, funk, soul - almost any genre you can think of, including even hip hop and metal. Pianos are one of the most versatile instruments in the world and will fit in almost anywhere. Once you learn to play piano in one style, it becomes very easy to quickly learn to play other styles because your fingers will be used to the keys and your knowledge of music will have increased a great deal. Unlike other instruments, the piano lets you see exactly what note you're playing because the keys are there right in front of you. This makes learning to speak the musical 'language' much easier.
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.
Perhaps the most satisfying thing about owning a piano is that you can sit down at it, at any time of the day, and play a beautiful, age-old instrument. Doing this every day is not only a soothing and pleasant experience, but you will also develop skills quicker than you thought possible! Whether you prefer to take on a music teacher or study piano by yourself through books and courses, having an instrument that is a joy to play is one of the most important parts about motivating yourself to keep it up. Not only this, but having a piano on stage or in your home is a mark of style and elegance. Nothing is better than having your very own piano at home, where either you or your friends or children can enjoy it together.
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 noticed pianos being played at wedding ceremonies or other events. It might be the rich, lazy chords of smooth jazz, or possibly a sophisticated Mozart piece, or even something you have composed yourself. Learning the piano will offer hours of stunning music, making your house a welcoming and artistically inspiring spot to live.
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.
Learn more about pianos at a reputable <a href='http://morrisbrothersmusicstore.com/'>music store</a>, visit Sean Ryder's site to find the best <a href='http://morrisbrothersmusicstore.com/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.browse&category_id=6'>music store</a> for your needs.
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New Unique Article!
Title: The Magic of the Piano
Author: Sean Ryder
Email: stephen.abfc@hotmail.com
Keywords: pianos, musical instrument, music lessons, hobbies, music, family, children, arts
Word Count: 928
Category: Music
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