The piano is a large stringed instrument with a keyboard. When a pianist strikes a key on the piano, a hammer hits a string inside the frame of the piano.
The different thicknesses and lengths of strings are attached to a soundboard which causes them to vibrate . These vibrations produce sounds that may be softened or held by the use of pedals worked by the player’s foot.
The modern piano has a range of about seven octaves. If the piano is used as a solo instrument, it is placed at the front of the orchestra, with the player sitting to the left of the conductor. If used as part of the percussion section, the piano is placed behind the violins inside the orchestra.
