1. THE NEED TO KNOW BASICS OF THE PIANO Applied Lessons: Piano

2. The Basics  Known as both a string and percussion instrument  Widely used in Western music  Both solo and ensemble music  Used in many genres  Comes from formal name Pianoforte  Made of very hard woods (Maple, beech, etc.)  Heaviest instrument (btw. 300-1000 lbs.)  Range of A0 (C0)-C8 (7 ½ octaves)  Keyboard was the first instrument where musicians could play more than one note constantly with freedom (next to guitar)  Much of piano repertoire was written for keyboard instruments very different than the modern piano

3. Parts of the Piano (outside)

4. Parts of the Piano (Action) Parts to know: Key, Damper lever, Hammer, and Damper

5. Piano Pedals Soft Pedal-Also called una corda pedal Shifts hammers so they hit only one string, or moves hammers closer to strings so they can’t sound as loud Sostenuto Pedal-not on all pianos. Allows for some notes to be sustained while others aren’t Sustain Pedal-lifts dampers off of strings to let sound resonate. Also called Damper pedal.

6. History of the Piano  Keyboard instruments originated from hammered dulcimer  Many failed attempts at creating mechanized keyboards during Middle Ages  By 17 th century, mechanism developed enough for harpsichord and clavichord

7. History, cont.  Harpsichord  Plucked by quills  Body of piano most like harpsichord  Clavichord  Struck by tangents (stayed on string)  Mechanism of piano most like clavichord  Both used until the end of the Baroque period (1750)

8. History, cont.  Fortepiano  Invented by Bartholomew Cristofori in Padua, Italy  “Keeper of the Instruments” for Prince Ferdinand de Medici  Invented around 1700 (prototypes)  Solved greatest problem  The Hammer  How to hammer string but remain in contact with it  How to have the hammer rest without bouncing or make noise  How to repeat a note rapidly

9. History, cont.  Piano “action” served as a model for first piano makers  Thinner strings and quieter than modern piano  Relatively unknown until 1711 until Scipione Maffei wrote article, new generation of piano builders

10. History, cont.  Gottfried Silbermann  Known more for organ building  Made exact replicas of Cristofori’s pianos  One addition-invented forerunner of damper pedal  Viennese School  Piano making flourished in late 18 th century (Mozart Era)  Wood frames, 2 strings per note, leather covered hammers, black/white keys often opposite  Softer clearer tone, less sustaining power  Fortepiano

11. History, cont.  Early-Mid 1800’s  Industrial Revolution  Higher quality steel strings  Expand range from 5 octaves to 7 1/2  Cast iron frame-support extra tension  John Broadwood  Invented grand piano (piano in harpsichord frame)  1770 1 st, 1820 7 octaves  Sebastian Erard  Invented double escapement action 1821  Rapid playing of repeated notes

12. History, cont.  Iron Frame (Plate)  Sits on top of the soundboard  Holds the extra tension of the added strings  20 tons of pressure in a Grand Piano  Patented in 1825 by Alpheus Babcock in Boston, Mass  Felt Hammers  1826  Better sound, longer lasting  Henri Pape  Strings  “Choir” of strings (3 vs. 2)  Cross stringing to allow thicker not longer strings  Henri Pape

13. Piano’s Role in Culture

14. Other Kinds of Pianos  Player piano  Plays itself from a piano roll  Rolls have perforations that pneumatic devices translate to music  Some keyboard do the same with MIDI  Digital pianos (keyboards)  Digital sampling to reproduce piano sound  Allows for automatic transposing, other sounds, and easy recording

15. Well Known Piano Makers  Steinway  Yamaha  Baldwin  Bosendorfer-extended range  Kawai