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PIANO
The Favourite Instrument Among Music Teachers – The Piano
The piano is a very popular instrument among music teachers because students are able to learn about the basics of music much better on this instrument than on any other. It is a versatile instrument and the best choice for a new student of music. It is also one of the few instruments that enables the player to play the accompaniment and the melody at the same time. This stringed acoustic musical instrument was invented in early 18th century by Bartolomeo Cristofori in Padua, Italy. He was employed by the Grand Prince of Tuscany, Ferdinando de Medici as his Keeper of the Instruments. It is called a pianoforte in Italian meaning an instrument that produces soft and loud sounds in accordance to the pressure of the pianist's touch on the keys. Modern pianos have a total of 88 black and white keys, 52 white keys and 36 black keys, allowing the player to play as many as 88 different notes from the deepest bass to the highest treble. The original version of the piano was refined by Johann Zumpebut. It was a difficult instrument to play until it was popularized by Bach who was an international celebrity.
Growth In Popularity Of The Piano
Playing the piano was the chief form of entertainment in earlier times until the arrival of the radio. Women were allowed to display their musical talents at parties and social gatherings. It was a greatly desired asset of women in the 18th and 19th centuries and they were considered more desirable if they could play the piano. The ability to play increased their social status and their marriageability. It was a testimony of the family's status on the socioeconomic ladder too. Nonetheless, playing professionally was looked down upon. Piano skills were limited to the upper strata of society as it was quite an expensive hobby to indulge in.
Popular Despite Introduction Of Affordable Options
The popularity of the piano waned with the introduction of the electronic keyboard which is cheaper and lends itself to playing popular music. Despite all the challenges to its existence, the piano continues to remain popular especially among students of music and music theory. Every key on the piano can be used for only one pitch and since there are distinctive black and white keys, you can look at the keys to see which note you are playing.
Benefits Of Playing The Piano
Learning to play the piano improves your dexterity and your ability for hand-eye coordination. Music has a calming effect on the human body and reduces heart rates and blood pressure. It improves your concentration skills as you need to have split concentration to be able to use both hands, read the music, work the pedals, and listen to the notes you are playing all at the same time. This skill of divided attention helps you to improve your multitasking skills in other aspects of your life. It is easy to play the piano without much physical effort unlike other musical instruments such as the guitar which can give you calluses and wind instruments which requires a lot of lung strength.
