When most people think of the piano they think of boring classical music, “Heart and Soul” by Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser, or that instrument they played for a year before they got bored and moved on from it. However, the piano is so much more than what first meets the eye.

One of the best parts about the piano is that it is a very diverse instrument and can be played with many different styles. While some other instruments have a certain distinct sound and can really only sound natural in a few different genres of music, the piano has many. Many famous pianists are known for different types of music, whether it be jazz, classical, or pop.

The piano also has an interesting past. It was made in Italy by Bartolomeo Cristofori in the early 1700s. Using his knowledge of the harpsichord, Cristofori created a new instrument called the “fortepiano” or loud-soft. As time passed people began to just call it the piano.

Pianos started off as hammers pounding strings to create a certain frequency using a series of keys on a keyboard. In the modern times, however, pianos have been created digitally so that there is no expensive tuning to be done.

While starting to learn how to play such an intimidating instrument may seem to be a daunting task, it is both relaxing and very enjoyable. Even if you choose not to learn how to play, it is nice to have an understanding for the hard work that pianists put into playing their instrument as well as an appreciation of the instrument itself.