Do you want to know how to play or teach piano better? The archive contains posts about teaching the piano. In addition, it contains posts with tips for playing and notating piano music. Plus, there are posts that deal with traditional music theory and also the theory of micro tuning keyboards.
The funny thing about keyboard instruments, such as the piano and organ, they did not originally have keys. The father of all keyboard instruments is a water organ called the hydraulis.
When the Greeks developed the hydraulis, it had slat-like sliders instead of keys. Water moving from a higher chamber to a lower chamber created suction, which moved air through the pipes. The sliders controlled how air passed through the set of ranked pipes.
By the mediaeval period, the organ began to look more like the modern keyboard. However, it did not have black keys yet. Also, the “keys” actually looked more like fist sized levers, because form followed function. It took around a century and a half for the keys to shrink down to finger size.
As the theory of scales developed into the mediaeval gamut, theorists added the black keys. Bb came first. The Bb sign looks a lot like a lowercase B, because the first ever accidental started as a B. At first, the theorists thought the other black keys were accidents. Even today we call the black keys accidentals and the white keys naturals.
However, the keyboard did not always come with white naturals and black accidentals. In the 1700s, keyboards commonly switched the color of the accidentals and naturals.
The harpsichord proceeded the piano. The name “harpsichord” makes it sound like it was a harp that played chords.
However, an instrument with strings passing over a resonating body technically should be called a zither, not a harp. Of course, the name zithachord would just have sounded silly.
By the early 1700s, Bartolomeo Cristofori had perfected the hammer action of the piano. The organ and harpsichord couldn’t play dynamics through the keys, which frustrated composers.
Therefore, the piano was designed as a keyboard that could play both soft and loud. Thus, Cristofori called it the arpicembelo che fa il piano e il forte. This roughly translates into “a harpsichord that makes soft and loud.”
Historical pianos are called pianofortes or fortepianos. Eventually, people shortened the name to piano. So, when you play the piano, you are technically playing the soft.
© 2021 Geoffrey Keith
Back to the Successful Music Student Blogs page
“Why is EADGBE the unquestioned standard guitar tuning?” How you tune affects both the sound and playability of the guitar. There are many tunings, but EADGBE is the indisputable standard. What makes it so popular among guitarists? Keep reading to find out. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Power chords are an integral part of rock music’s electric guitar sound. However, you only get that exact sound when you use power chords with distortion. Why? Because a distorted electric guitar doesn’t sound quite as good with full major and minor harmonies. Why? Keep reading “Can Somebody Explain Why Power Chords Sound Powerful?” to learn why these powerful little two and three note harmonies work. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
“What’s the basic difference between Drop D vs Open D tuning?” Both are popular alternate guitar tunings. However, which string notes you alter, and how you play them once you’re done, will give them very different sounds. As a bonus, I’ve also added sections on Double Drop D and DADFAD tuning. Keep reading to learn what they are, and how you play them. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
“Which notes are authentic blue notes?” The following post clears up the confusion around blue notes and has an example of a popular song that uses them. Keep reading to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Have you ever wondered what the word intonation means? In music, it’s an important part of performance for many instruments, and it impacts all instruments to one degree of another. Keep reading “What Does Intonation Mean and Why Is It Essential in Music?” to learn more. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Do you want a clear understanding of what the word resonate means in music? Music has an amazing capacity to affect our emotions. However, the word resonate can have both objective and subjective meanings when it comes to music. Keep reading “What’s the Meaning of Resonate in the Context of Music?” to learn both definitions. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Do you want a better understanding of musical pitch? In the field of music, there exists a relationship between acoustics, music pitch, and sound vibration frequencies. From the moving passages of a string quartet to the driving pulse of a rhythm section, life is filled with an enormous array of musical sounds that you can enjoy. Keep reading to learn how music pitch works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Have you ever wondered why a chord works with one instrument’s tone color (or a particular timbre of voice) but not another? Do you want to know what to listen for when tuning up your chords? Timbre and harmony are intimately related and understanding that relationship will deepen a composer’s knowledge of music. Also, it’ll help vocals, woodwinds, brass, and violins to know what to listen for when tuning up chords. Keep reading to learn the secret relationship of timbre and harmony. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
“What should I look for in a ‘piano teacher near me’?” Most parents start by doing a web search for a “piano teacher near me” or for “piano lessons near me.” But how do you choose a teacher? Piano lessons cost a lot of money, so finding the right teacher is important. Getting it right can mean the difference between getting a good lesson experience and wasting your money. Read more to learn what you should look for in a “piano teacher near me.” Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
“How do I make any sense of the treble and bass clefs? Why are they so different?” To answer this question, you need to understand the grand staff, the pattern of the clefs, and middle C. Keep reading “Making Sense of Why Treble and Bass Clef Are So Different” to learn how the clefs work. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.