The Piano
These days, most beginners purchase a keyboard rather than a piano. Because of the cost and the size, pianos are often impractical. However, some students still enjoy learning on pianos, and this should not be discouraged by teachers. Not even the finest keyboards can truly simulate a piano. The touch, response, and sound of a piano can never really be duplicated, because a piano is an acoustic instrument. A keyboard, on the other hand, is made out of plastic, and its sound is produced electronically.
A piano is composed of wood, metal, and felt. On good pianos, plastic is only used on the keys. The piano makes a sound when a key is pressed and an internal hammer strikes a set of three strings. (In the lower register, each hammer is assigned to only one string.) Because the strings are hit, the piano is considered a percussion instrument. The piano's hammers act like mallets or sticks, making it a cousin to the drum or to other mallet instruments such as the xylophone and marimba.
Before World War II, white keys were covered with bands of ivory hence the phrase
The piano is designed to let its metal strings vibrate. The sustain pedal (see Chapter 4) lets them resonate fully. Moreover, the piano's construction allows for the creation of deep, rich tones, colors, and textures. Because of this, the piano is the most expressive keyboard instrument available. The piano's uniquely crowned sounding board gives it brilliant timbres (tone colors), which ultimately sets it apart from its electronic brethren. With the exception of some newfangled hybrids, electronic keyboards do not have a sounding board. Therefore, they can never fully reproduce the exquisite, full-bodied tone of a piano.
The piano is made up of many parts, both large and small. Some of the parts not previously mentioned include the iron frame, the damper, the action, the bridges, the key bed, and the lyre. These components are critical to the construction and design of the piano, but you needn't be an expert on all these parts. As long as you understand the basic mechanics of the piano, you will possess all the knowledge you need to get started. Just remember that the felt-tipped hammers strike the strings and the sounding board adds color and refinement to each note. The rest is in the hands of the pianist.
