Many of us associate piano classes with children. But even if you never touched a piano in your younger years, it is not too late to learn. Piano classes for adults are increasingly popular. Seize the day and start tinkling on the ivories!
The 1720 Cristofori piano in the Metropolitan Museum in New York
The history of the piano
Bartolomeo Cristofori produced the first piano in the early 1700s in Italy. He did this by adapting the harpsichord so that small hammers struck, rather than plucked, the strings. This allowed the player to control the sound of each note by striking the keys at different speeds.
Cristofori called his invention gravicembalo coi piano e forte. His long title suggested the importance of being able to play soft sounds at the same time as loud sounds – the first instrument to be able to be used like this! This helped make the piano a very expressive instrument. The long title became shortened to pianoforte and eventually to piano. Despite the piano’s musicality, it didn’t catch on until the latter half of the eighteenth century. Luckily, it had two high-profile enthusiasts – Mozart and Beethoven.
The piano and Classical music
Mozart created his first piano pieces as a child. He went on to compose enduring pieces, designed to get the utmost out of both the performer and the instrument. Beethoven, greatly influenced by Mozart, composed 32 piano sonatas and 5 piano concerti. Beethoven was certainly dedicated. He played with such vigour that his piano strings and keys went flying. 
In the Romantic era, Chopin composed works only for the piano! His piano writing was technically demanding. The Fryderyk Chopin Institute has been created by the Parliament of Poland to research and promote his life and works. It hosts the International Chopin Piano Competition, a prestigious competition devoted entirely to his works.
Franz Liszt, a good friend of Chopin when they each lived in Paris, further popularised the piano. Liszt was the pop icon of his day – talented, charismatic and attractive.
In the 20th century, composers such as Scott Joplin contributed musical styles like ragtime and jazz. In addition, innovative new contenders such as Maurice Ravel, Igor Stravinsky and Robert Starer became popular. The piano became an important instrument in music education. Many large works for orchestra started out as piano pieces in their draft forms. Often large orchestral works were reduced into versions for four hands so two people could enjoy the works at home. A decent level of skill in piano is often required in music colleges even if the piano is not your first instrument. The piano is used to explore melody writing, harmony, counterpoint and analysis.
Learning the piano
If you think that the piano is for you, take a few lessons before you buy the Baby Grand. Your teacher will help you work out fingerings and challenge you to improve your abilities. Learning the piano does need an amount of commitment. To progress at a reasonable rate, you’ll need to commit at least an hour a day to practice. Your teacher can help you consider the pros and cons about choosing a digital or an acoustic instrument and also about choosing a new or secondhand piano and about the differences between an upright and a grand piano.
You will find piano classes for adults here.
Playright Music Ltd. is an independent music school directed by Daniel Walsh. Music education (piano lessons, piano and musicianship classes, theory, harmony, counterpoint, free composition etc.) is a main service offered. Other services include music typesetting to publishing companies, music production to advertising and media companies, and professional training to teachers and students in many aspects of music technology.
