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Andrew Eudy
Mrs. Simmons
4/13/15
College Research Technology
The Piano
In numerous studies done all over the world, there is a theory that playing a musical
instrument can increase your IQ and help you in many different ways. After researching the
history of the piano, the types of pianos, and the proof
of educational boost I have gathered enough
information about the piano to conclude that this
complex instrument dates back very far and was the
main source of entertainment, while providing children
with a challenge when learning how to play and master
the piano.

Figure 1("Grand Piano, 1720.")

The first person to successfully construct a hammer-action keyboard instrument in 1700

was Bartolomeo Cristofori from Florence, Italy. Bartolomeo was an artisan who repaired
harpsichords. The keyboard he created was called a gravecembalo col piano et forte, "keyboard
instrument with soft and loud." He used that name for the strings that produced varied dynamic
levels of vibrations when you hit the different keys. The keys were small wooden hammers
covered with deerskin. Cristofori had played around with the instrument for years and soon it had
become very popular with the upper class. By 1730, pianos were on the market and being sold
throughout Europe and played by the most elite Europeans. In this time, the pianos were
expensive, but were decreasing in size, so that wealthy families could have them in their homes.

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Over time, pianos were made in numerous different shapes and sizes so they could fit in middle
class homes also. It was not until 1770, that the piano reached America by a German immigrant
named John Behrent, who was a piano maker. Ludwig van Beethoven, who was a famous
composer using the piano from 1770-1827 was known by many. During and after his time the
piano started getting more keys and this not only made the pianos larger, it also gave them more
sounds. At this time, they also began to create the instruments out of iron for a louder effect.
During the 19th century, it was often frowned upon for a woman to play the piano in public, but
some exceptions were made. Although they were not supposed to play the piano in public, they
were expected to know how to play it at home and train their children to play.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 1791), a pianist prodigy, was born into such a
home. He began touring Europe at four years old, giving concerts alongside his musically
talented family. Franz Liszt (1811 1886), a Hungarian pianist, was such a musician. He
introduced the solo piano performance as opposed to orchestral and wrote more than 600 pieces.
Frederic Chopin (1819 1849), a Polish pianist who had tuberculosis, was another favorite
performer who also gave private lessons to many of the elite in Paris. Louis Moreau Gottschalk
(1829 1869) of New Orleans became known internationally for his tremolo technique, which
involves rapidly playing one note or alternating between two or more. Parisian Marie Moke
Pleyel (1811 1875) (Woman) performed in Europe and Russia and impressed both Liszt and
Chopin. In addition, Clara Wieck Schumann, who began playing piano at the age of nine, only
made an even bigger name for herself after marrying German composer Robert Schumann,
performing his works. (The Piano: A key note of music history)
There are several different types of pianos according to size, sound, and make. Some are
made out of different materials and some are designed for the appropriate household. There is a

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vertical piano, a spinet, a console, a studio, an upright, and a horizontal piano. Also there are six
basic types of horizontal pianos; A petite grand, a baby grand, a medium grand, a parlor grand,
the semi-concert or ballroom, and the concert grand. The pianos have some similarities and some
differences. The vertical piano is called so because of its height and position of the strings. The
spinet is the smallest of pianos with a height of about 36-38 inches tall and a width of 58 inches.
This is a good size piano for someone with limited space in their home. A fault to this piano is
that it has less power and accuracy due to its size. The console is a little larger than the spinet
with a height around 40-43 inches and a width of 58 inches wide. It comes in many different
styles and finishes. This piano is good people who are particular in complementing their
furniture. Since the console is made with "direct action," it produces more enhanced tones. The
next piano is the studio and it is known to be seen in music schools and music studios. It is
around 45-48 inches tall and 58 inches wide. It has a larger soundboard and longer strings, so it
produces great tone quality and is very durable. The upright piano is the tallest of the vertical
pianos with a height of about 50-60 inches and a width of 58 inches. This is the type of piano
that has been in the family for centuries because your grandparents and great grandparents
played these back in the day. The next piano is the horizontal piano and there are six basic types
to this piano. First, the horizontal piano is referred as the grand piano because of its size and
placement of strings. They have finer tones and the most responsive key action. The six different
horizontal pianos are the petite grand, the baby grand, the medium grand, the parlor grand, the
semi-concert or ballroom, and finally the concert grand. They are in order according to their size.
It has been a question whether or not playing a musical instrument has an educational
boost for a while. There has been countless studies to test this theory over the years and it has
been observed that in most cases this theory is true. A study by Jeffrey lynn Kluball and Daryl

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Erick Trent from the university of Sarasota and East Texas State University have concluded that
middle school and high school students who played a musical instrument scored significantly
higher than those who didn't on standardized tests. They mostly benefited in the math, science,
and language arts sections of academics. Another study by Northwestern University scientists,
specifically how learning to play music affects our brains in a positive manor. It actually changes
our brains by adding new neural connections and that primes the brain for other forms of
communication. These studies on musical training indicates that there is an impact on other skills
including speech and language, memory, and attention. Music training strengthens the same
neural processes that often are deficient in those with developmental dyslexia or those who have
difficulty hearing speech in noise. The children who have taken music lessons also have a larger
vocabulary and better reading ability than others who have not taken music lessons. Many
suggest that music should be included in the school curriculum because it tones the brain and it
shapes an individual's development. Some more benefits of playing the piano include developing
strong discipline skills, patience, coordination, and dedication as well as an increased ability to
memorize. According to a Michigan State University research project, "piano-playing Americans
reported that piano lessons significantly reduced their incidence of depression and anxiety." A
study by Loma Linda from the University School of Medicine and Applied Bio systems
concludes that playing the piano can reverse stress at a molecular level. For adults, making music
can reduce job burnout and improve your mood according to the study done by Advances in
Mind-body Medicine. Another study done by the University of Miami shows that playing music
can increase human growth hormones. The study group was a test group who took keyboard
lessons and a group who did not and the test group who took lessons displayed a higher level of
Hgh. With this study, the research has been trying to find the connection between musical

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inclination and intelligence and it has been found that those who play a musical instrument
perform better on tests of spatial-temporal skills, math ability, reading skills, vocabulary, and
verbal memory. A 10-year study involving 25,000 students show that music making improves
test scores in standardized tests, as well as in reading proficiency exams (Source: James
Catterall, UCLA, 1997). Music lessons taken during your childhood years could benefit your
brain later in life even if you do not continue taking lessons into adulthood. The benefits seem to
be stronger the longer you take music lessons as a child. According to another study done in
1997 by Neurological Research states piano students understand mathematical and scientific
concepts easier, than students who have not played the piano. They performed 34% higher on
tests of proportional reasoning, ratios, fractions, proportions, and thinking in space and time.
(Cooper)
In Conclusion, the piano is a complex instrument and is more than just a piece of our
entertainment history; it has helped many with its educational boost from learning and playing
the piano. The history is very fascinating and the piano is a huge piece of the worlds history. In
addition, society does not realize all the various types of pianos and how they differ from each
other when it comes to sound and quality. This is a great topic to research to learn some more
about the worlds history because this is not just a United States instrument, it is based in
Europe.
Works Cited
The Effect of Music on Childrens Intelligence. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.raisesmartkid.com/>.
Goho, Mark. History of the Piano. Youtube. N.p., 4 Apr. 2012. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCt072wxj2M>.

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The Piano: A key note of music history. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.
<http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall05/pfaff/history.html>.
The Piano: Different types of pianos. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.
<http://musiced.about.com/od/beginnersguide/a/pianotypes.htm>.
Top 10 Ways Playing Piano Makes You Healthier & Smarter. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.cooperpiano.com/piano-player-blog/bid/53723/Top-10-Ways-PlayingPiano-Makes-You-Healthier-Smarter>.
Turner, Barrie Carson. The Living Piano. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996. Print.
"Grand Piano, 1720." The Metropolitan Museum of Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr.
2015. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/89.4.1219>.

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