The Piano

General Info

The Piano was invented in the early 1700s by Bartolomeo Cristofori. The instrument is played by hitting a key that triggers a small hammer within the instrument to hit a string. This may surprise you but the piano is infact both a string and percussion instrument. With the addition of electric instruments keyboards (electric pianos) came onto the scene in the 1930s. As keyboards have improved they have given access to more people to learn the instrument. A Piano will cost thousands of dollars but you can now pick up a good quality keyboard for $250-1000 depending on your requirements

Notable Pianists

Classical Pianists

Ludwig van Beethoven – One of the most influential composers, known for powerful and emotional piano works.
Frédéric Chopin – Famous for expressive, technically challenging piano music.

Jazz Pianists

Duke Ellington – A major figure in jazz, known for both piano playing and composing.
Herbie Hancock – Blended jazz with funk and electronic music.

Modern & Popular Pianists

Elton John – Known for iconic pop songs driven by piano.
Billy Joel – Famous for storytelling through piano-based songs.

Fun Facts!

The piano has over 12,000 individual parts, making it one of the most complex musical instruments.
The largest piano ever built was over 5.7 metres long—much bigger than a standard grand piano!
Early pianos were much quieter than modern ones because they had lighter frames and strings.

Palmer Music Tutor, Sam playing the piano