Piano

Hello there. My name is Piano. I have shiny black and white keys that look like a big smile. When you press my keys, I sing for you. Plink, plonk, I can make beautiful music. Before I was born, my cousins, the harpsichords, could only sing in one way, always loud. But I was made to be special. I was created to sing in a new way, with a voice that could whisper softly or sing out loud and strong. I was so excited to share my songs.

A very kind man made me a long, long time ago, around the year 1700. His name was Bartolomeo Cristofori, and he lived in a sunny place called Italy. Bartolomeo had a wonderful idea. He wanted to make an instrument that could share all kinds of feelings. He wanted it to play music that was soft, which is ‘piano’ in Italian, and loud, which is ‘forte’. So he gave me a special secret inside. He put tiny, fuzzy hammers inside my big wooden body. When you press my keys gently, the little hammers tap my strings softly to make a quiet sound. When you press them harder, the hammers tap the strings with a bigger tap to make a loud, happy sound. It was like magic.

Because I can play soft and loud, I can help people share their feelings with music. Are you feeling happy and want to dance? I can play a loud, bouncy song. Are you feeling sleepy and calm? I can play a soft, quiet lullaby to help you rest. I was so proud that my music could match how people felt inside. Now, you can find me in so many places. I live in cozy homes, in big schools where children learn, and on bright stages where lots of people come to listen. I love making music for everyone, and I hope one day you and I can play a beautiful song together.