The Greatest Musical Instrument.
By Ebenezer Chiang
The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of The Innovative Times.
The piano is the best musical instrument!
There are three proofs of its superiority. First, it is easy to learn, play and maintain. Second, it can make beautiful music. Third, it can be used for many genres of music, in many different settings. The ease at which the piano allows its user to produce good music in varying settings and styles makes it an instrument without rival.
The piano is a very easy instrument. All one needs to do to play it is to press its keys. No other technique is required. Other instruments might require the musician to learn strumming, picking, bowing, embouchure, or even software skills, in order to play in tune. With a properly-tuned piano, it is impossible to be out of tune if the musician hits the right key. Tuning every few months or years is also the only maintenance a piano really needs to remain playable, while other stringed instruments require much more regular tuning, or even restringing.
Wind instruments require vigorous cleaning, whereas a piano only needs some dusting now and then. It is also more convenient to play a piano than another instrument. It does not need to be lugged around because it can be placed rather permanently at the location where it is to be played.
Pianos are quite common in homes, schools, hospitals, and churches, and all a pianist needs to do to play it is to sit down and press the keys. Beginners are able to quickly learn to play simple pieces. It is convenient and simple to play and maintain a piano.
Despite the ease with which a piano can be played, it can still produce beautiful, complex music. It has eighty-eight keys, or eighty-eight notes, more than most other instruments have. The nature of the piano also allows multiple notes to be played, as long as the musician can press the keys.
Most instruments can play far fewer notes at the same time; for example, the guitar's six strings limit it to six notes. The wide range of notes, and ability to play several at once, allows it to play multiple chords, or even multiple tunes, at the same time, making for a more complete sound and more intricate music. The quality of the notes produced by a piano is said to be less beautiful than that of some other instruments, such as the violin. However, its timbre and range of volume is sufficiently beautiful for professionals to sway emotions with their playing. Listening to a piano's music is listening to a complete piece, complex and emotional.
Due to the advantages listed above, the piano is a very versatile instrument. It can be used as part of an orchestra, or it can be used for a solo performance. In a solo performance, the musician can sing along with the piano as accompaniment, but they do not have to, and can let it “sing” for itself.
The piano's timbre is neutral enough, and its range of volume wide enough, to allow it to play in many styles, from a quiet serenade to a loud rock song. The piano can be used in many settings, be it as accompaniment during worship, or as a performance during a concert. The piano is often used to make covers of popular songs that had originally used multiple instruments. It can play the low notes of a bass and the high notes of a flute at the same time. Making music electronically may be able to produce the same sounds a piano can, but lacks the spontaneity and the opportunity for improvisation that a piano can offer.
The piano can be used for almost any musical purpose.
The piano's simplicity, beauty, and versatility make it the best instrument. Few instruments are as widely favoured as the piano. Playing it is a skill that is not difficult to learn but still widely applicable and greatly rewarding.