Why Piano is So Hard to Play

A Vibrating String Can Sound Good - but Only for A Short Time!

That's the thing. There are two kinds of sounds in this world: those which start strong and fade out and those which start strong and STAY strong. The piano, the guitar, every type of instrument that depends on striking something which then fades away produce examples of that first type of sound. The second type is represented by the violin (yes, it does have strings but that bow changes it completely!), reeds, horns, organs, etc.

On any kind of keyboarded instrument, be it the acoustic piano, the organ, the digital piano, the portable keyboard, the synthesizer, there are found at least one of the two kinds of sounds. (Some instruments have hundred, if not thousands of different sounds.)

So why is the piano thought of as being the "be all, end all" of instruments? Simple - publicity. You are all familiar with that, right? The piano was "high tech" when it was invented - in 1706! Something that plugs into the wall is a huge advance over the piano, but for reasons best known to themselves piano stores, piano sales people, even piano instructors discourage many people from buying anything but an acoustic piano.

Of course, in a lousy economy, money speaks louder than such "experts." Many, perhaps most people buy keyboards. However, they buy them as a substitute for an acoustic piano. How do I know this? Again the answer is simple - I talk to the public. I have also spoken with piano "purists" and I know what they think and say (cause they say it to me.)

Any sound that simply dies away, as does the piano, requires you to continue playing new sounds to make up for the fact that the previous sounds are gone! This makes your task much harder. Add to this the fact that much of this effort is performed by the LEFT hand, your lousiest and least trusted hand, and you have a prescription for more work than many would prefer.

Oh you, can stick it out and learn to play. Professional players do.However, many folks would rather have a life and simply make music as a hobby. These are the people I mostly teach. Actually, I think that people would be happier if they did have a musical hobby. That usually means that they play something other than a piano. So what do I recommend you buy/do? Visit my website at www.danstarr.com for full info.

 Remember that the best piano in the entire world still just sounds like...a piano. So you work very hard and get a single sound? Not very good ROI (Return on Investment!)