The invention of the modern piano is credited to

Bartolomeo Cristofori (16551731). He was an

expert harpsichord maker, and was well
acquainted with the body of knowledge on
stringed keyboard instruments. It is not known
exactly when Cristofori first built a piano. An
inventory made by his employers, the Medici
family, indicates the existence of a piano by the
year 1700; another document of doubtful
authenticity indicates a date of 1698.
*The piano is arguably the oldest living complex
machine humans have ever made.
*Modern pianos have two basic configurations:
the grand piano and the upright piano.
*A silent piano is an acoustic piano having an
option to silence the strings by means of an
interposing hammer bar. They are designed for
private silent practice.


*Pianists have more efficient brains.
*The month of September is National Piano
Month in USA.
*The name "piano" is shortened version of
Cristofori's original name for the instrument:
"piano et forte" meaning soft and loud.
*There are 18 million nonprofessional pianists in
the USA. 79% are female; 21% are male. The
average age is 28.