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Some piano facts...

• Parts

  A piano has over 12,000 parts, with 10,000 of them moving.

• Tuning

  Tuning a piano is a complex process, and new pianos are tuned four times in their first year.

• Keys

  Pianos have 88 keys, 52 white and 36 black. The ratio of keys on the piano helps players find root notes, chord barriers, and major and minor influences.

• Strings

  Pianos have 220–230 strings, each made of steel and under 168 pounds of tension. The hammers hit the strings, causing them to vibrate and produce sound.

• Classification

  Pianos are considered both percussion and string instruments, but primarily percussion.

• History

  Bartolomeo Cristofori, an Italian, invented the piano in the 17th century. He was dissatisfied with the harpsichord's lack of volume control.

• Materials

  Pianos used to have ivory keys, which were valued for their durability and natural beauty. Thankfully that changed in the 1930's, and elephants have been happy about that ever since.

• Digital pianos

  Digital pianos allow musicians to practice easily and save space and money.

• Complexity

  Pianos are complex instruments that can produce a wide range of sounds and play both melody and accompaniment simultaneously.

• Earliest Keyboard Instruments
  The piano’s ancestors include the clavichord and the harpsichord, which date back to the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. These instruments lacked the dynamic expression of the piano.

• Cristofori’s Innovations
  Cristofori’s key innovation was the escapement mechanism, which allows the hammer to strike the string and return to its resting position without blocking the string's vibration.

• First Public Piano Performance
  The first documented public performance on a piano was in 1709 in Florence, Italy, shortly after Cristofori created his invention.

• Rise of Piano Virtuosos
  Pianists like Franz Liszt and Frédéric Chopin in the 19th century popularized the piano as a solo instrument, performing dazzling compositions that showcased its expressive capabilities.

• The Square Piano
  In the 18th and early 19th centuries, square pianos, with strings arranged horizontally, were popular for their compact design, especially in domestic settings.

• Beethoven’s Influence
  Ludwig van Beethoven, a transitional figure between the Classical and Romantic eras, pushed piano builders to innovate, as his compositions demanded more power and range than earlier pianos could provide.

• Piano Tuning and Temperament
  The development of equal temperament tuning, which divides an octave into 12 equal parts, was crucial for the piano to play in all keys without sounding dissonant.

• Iron Frame Revolution
  The full iron frame introduced in the 19th century enabled pianos to withstand the tension of thicker, higher-tension strings, paving the way for modern grand pianos.

• Piano as an Educational Tool
  The piano became an essential instrument for music education in the 19th century, especially for teaching young women in upper-class families, as it was considered a mark of refinement.

• Concert Grand Pianos
  The concert grand piano, often over 9 feet long, is designed for large venues, producing a powerful, resonant sound. The Steinway Model D and Bösendorfer Imperial are among the most famous examples.