RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Favored by: Pinetop Smith, Victoria Spivey, Fats Waller, Professor Longhair, James Booker, Billie Pierce, Piano Red, Huey Smith, Jerry Lee Lewis, Esquerita, Little Richard, Roosevelt Sykes, Memphis Slim, Otis Spann, Sunnyland Slim, Pinetop Perkins, Dr. John, Ray Charles and John Cale (just to name a few).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b56femgj90E

An astonishing, versatile instrument, that in the hands of a master can adapt to any kind or style of music.

I'm gonna guess that most of the ones are from people who were forced to play it as a kid. I've always loved the sound but lacked the dexterity for it, hence my years on the trombone.

My sister plays the piano. I really enjoy listening to her play.

A 'chordophone' by another name, far beyond the 'zither', the 'dulcimer', 'clavichord', 'harpsichord', 'virginals', 'spinets', the 'orphica' or the organ, the piano is a marvel forever.

Around 1700, Italian keyboard-instrument maker Bartolommeo Cristofori experimented to produce some such product that would be "more responsive to the player's touch than the harpsichord (q.v.). The new instrument might have passed unnoticed but for the interest of a writer, Scipione Maffei. An article that he wrote after a visit to Cristofori's workshop was later translated into German and probably inspired Gottfried Silbermann to start making pianos. In 1760 Johannes Zumpe, one of Silbermann's pupils, took the art of piano making to England..." (from 'Musical Instruments of the World,' Bantam Books)

Cristofori's invention was named a 'gravicembalo col piano e forte" ("harpsichord with soft and loud).

Mozart's concertos for the piano through number 14 might well be suitable for grand pianos by Zumpe, Johann Andreas Stein and John Broadwood, the latter's instruments being already fitted with "heavier strings and a stronger frame...more resistant to the touch and had a more powerful tone." But, from concerto number 15 through number 27, and much more so from the time of Beethoven's own, the modern piano enjoys a larger pitch range, "exceeded only by that of the organ and is capable of great expressiveness."

There is abundant wealth of inspiration for the instrument, solo or in ensemble, in all of music. In the Classical repertoire, there will be Haydn's and Mozart's exquisite sonatas as well as Beethoven's own masterful works, which broke ground for those by Chopin, Liszt, Schubert, Schumann and others, through Maurice Ravel. In combination with the violin or the cello, Brahms is a top choice and, where concertos are concerned, there are the late Mozart, the Beethoven five, two by Brahms, Chopin's and Tchaikovsky's First, the Grieg and the Schumann, and knockout Rachmaninov number Two and Three, through Prokofiev's dazzling One and Three.

Piano is anabsolutely classical instrument. It makes me think of all the great composers that created the ultimate beauty of classical music. Piano creates such mood and tone that it turns somewhat into human voice telling, sometimes pleading his/her story. It delivers emotion of a hopeless lover, desperate measures, angry warrior, innocent girl, it chamilions into so many characters that its versatility has no limits. I guess because of its versotility so many people can relate to it and drawn to it.

Pianos are so beautiful. New Age music has this a lot.

The piano is an incredibly sexy instrument. Some handsome, tuxedo clad man serenading me with Moonlight Sonata on a candlelit terrace, nothing better. That's never happened to me, but hey, it could.

I love to hear a good piano player playing jazz,blues,rock n roll or soul-but that Liberache crap has got to go!

How can I not rate this instrument high when I play one myself?! The ever-versatile piano is one of the best instruments around. Different kinds of music can be played -- classical, country, jazz, and contemporary pop styles. When it is done with skill, they are an absolute delight to listen to.

I'm a piano player, and I love playing this instrument. Very expressive when you play it properly, the most diverse instrument of all, thank the guy who invented pianos.

A beautiful instrument. The Swiss Army Knife of instruments when it comes to it's diversity and the wide range of moods it can produce. The fact that Matthew Bellamy, lead singer of muse, plays the piano, is enough to earn this instrument 5 starts on its own.

An unbelieveable instrument once mastered. Franz Liszt once said that his goal was to compose music that would have a piano sound like a symphony... and that, he did. Few instruments in the market have had people make such a claim!

I had piano lessons before, but I gave up on piano. I was kind of bored.

I play the piano. I like it

Of all instruments, it probably is the msot versatile. A piano can capture just about any mood or tone and its 88 keys cover the lowest and highest notes that are conceivable in any listenable music. It's one of the harder instruments to learn - which might be why some people don't like it that much. It's hard to learn to play well, and few thigns are as boring and bleah to lsiten to as a mediocre piano player. But if someone knows how to play, a piano is captivating magic to hear. Probably my favourite instrument.

Not exactly easy to learn. i've been playing since I was 3, and I'm getting pretty good now. Beautiful to listen to though. You can make so many awesome sounds come out of it.

A very romantic instrument...

I admire anyone with the skills to play this gorgeous instrument. Other instruments have a harder time standing by themself. Many of the most timeless and affecting compositions are piano based.

if i could play any instrument, it would have to be the piano. the sound of it is so beautiful, so haunting and peaceful. there's really no better sound in the world

Somewhat hard to learn, but it is a great instrument. Good for all genres of music and you can do some incredible things with it!

The only good piano player i've heard of if Elton John. it has a nice sound but it aint in any good music i've heard lately

The awesomest musical instrument ever!! i play piano and it always feels so good when u figure out a piece and can play it through!!can be played with any other instument and sounds good! i will always love my piano!

I've played the piano most of my life and have given a few concerts. One thing I don't like is when someone has background tapes playing along with their piano performance. A totally live concert is better. Also, a pianist needs to provide music that is exciting for the audience, like Beethoven's "Appassionata," instead of the listless, drawn-out material that some players give us, and which never seems to end.

Beautiful instrument. Makes any song it's played in beautifully dramatic, and just greatly contributes to the overall beauty of the song. Anyone can play it, but someone who can play it well can just bring out such a great sound, and that sound is something that nobody can deny as good.

I love the sound the piano makes, and you can play two or more parts at once and it sounds almost as good as an entire orchestra. I love you you can set the mood by playing in different keys or by playing louder or softer.

I took lessons at 8 years old, but pursued guitar several years later and found out it was easier. Despite that, piano is plays a vital role in music, it always makes a song "friendly" and enjoyable to listen to, (i.e. "November Rain", "Free Bird", "Sister Christian", etc.)

Wonderfully diversified instrument that involves nearly every era of music in a wide variety of ethnic cultures. The piano not only fills the room by itself but well compliments any orchestra. RECOMMENDATION: WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

It may be the king of musical instruments. Its wide range from high to low, its ability to play full chords, and the fact you can play with it and sing at the same time make it nearly perfect. It's not very portable, but any time it does get moved its because its well worth the move. I play some myself and I know that when I can figure out a song on the piano it usually sounds better than if it is played on anything else as a solo instrument.

piano is a wonderful insermant It is relaxing at times when my big sis who's really good plays but when my 5 year old sis plays it could wake you up from areally deep sleep.

Great! Easier to play chords, especially compared to a guitar when it comes to more complex chords. Great as you can play a bass line and a melody line with relative ease. Instantly become the life of the party if a piano is available. Great rock pianists: Keith Emerson, Billy Joel, Elton John, Tori Amos, Stevie Wonder, Tony Banks, Billy Preston, Rabbit Bundrick, Ian Stewart, Rick Wakeman, Alicia Keys, Dennis DeYoung, Geoff Downes.

This is a really great instrument. Billy Joel is a great pianist. The piano playing on Elton John's "Funeral for a Friend" is SO powerful.

Our friend the piano is an important part of any EXCELLENT rock band (reason #4 why *NSYNC sucks) but a rock band does not need a piano to be good. Now you know why Queen was so perfect---they had a pianist (Freddie himself). Presonally, I prefer the synthesizer to your classic piano. But the pian is useful in classical orchestras, jazz, and some other aspects of music. It produces a beautiful, peaceful sound. One thing I took off for was how overpopular the piano is. Pianists should lend us bassists a little of their popularity. But still and all, it's a really good instrument to have around. Four stars. Take care, everyone!

Truly the most diverse of all the instruments. That's why it was created. To rid us of the constant volume of harpsichords and give us an instrument that can set all different kinds of tones and moods. I don't think I can come up with a style of music that a piano wouldn't fit in with. So much music is written on pianos, probably because it's the most "basic" of all instruments. I think everyone should be able to pick out a few chords and melodies on a piano as a qualification for life.

Chopin and Beethoven used it, quite a bit of the music I listen to use it, so what can I say? I just love to play, and listen to, the piano!

My favorite instrument, this is likely the perfect instrument--the only one that sounds great alone! At least I feel that most instruments, to sound really GREAT, need other instruments to compliment it to really get the full effect, but the piano can stand alone! But, it CAN be used with other instruments too, though it doesn't HAVE to be, and it can help compliment other, lesser instruents for some beautiful music!