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The First Piano
Bartolomeo Cristofori created the first piano in 1700 in Florence, Italy. He worked for Italy's royal court as a craftsman, repairing harpsichords. He called it a "gravecembalo col piano et forte", which means 'keyboard instrument with soft and loud.' He tweaked it some throughout the years, and by 1730, the instrument had grown in popularity and most elite Europeans played them.
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall05/pfaff/history.html -
Wolfgang Mozart
By the 1760's the piano's design was made slightly smaller so wealthy families could have one in their homes, instead of just royalty. Wolfgang Mozart grew up in one of these homes. He began touring Europe at the age of 4, giving concerts with his family.
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall05/pfaff/history.html -
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The Piano's Improvements
Thoughout this time, the piano grew in size, allowing higher and lower octaves. Also, it was redisigned with iron to allow for a louder effect, giving us a larger depth of dynamics. Pianos were implimented into orchestras, too, causing the build of bigger concert halls with more seats to satisfy the growth of entertainment brought from it.
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall05/pfaff/history.html -
Pianos Reach America
A German immagrant named John Behrent, who was a piano maker, brought the piano to America. He created the U.S.'s first piano. At the time, most of the songs composed were used to describe the American Revolution.
http://americanprofile.com/articles/john-behrent-built-americas-first-piano/ -
The First Player Piano Invented
Jacquard Mills invented the player piano in 1800. This piano system used punched cards that you insert into a slot, and the piano plays itself. This piano was very popular for it's uses in the ability to learn songs easier and to entertain guests with famous peices live. This piano type was redesigned decades later with a floppy disk drive that replaced the punched cards.
http://www.amica.org/Live/Instruments/Player_Pianos/Player_Piano_History.htm -
The First Keyboard
Harold Burroughs Rhodes created the first electronic keyboard. It used hammers and strings, like older versions, but amplified the sound using electromagnetic pulses. His keyboard was used in many pop songs of the day, eventually leading to the invention of the Keytaur, and many more acheivemtents. It's amazing to see all that the first piano instrument has come to today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/04/arts/harold-rhodes-89-inventor-of-an-electronic-piano.html
