Cool Facts on Pianos

The total string tension in a concert grand is close to Thirty Tons!

There are over 10 MILLION pianos in American homes, businesses, and institutions.

The term "Tickle the Ivorys" refers to playing the ivory keys of the piano, however,
ivory has not been used to make piano keys since about the 1950's (they are plastic, sometimes referred to as "Ivorine").

Pianos are made of thousands of pieces of wood glued together to form various parts of the playing mechanism as well as the cabinet.
Felt, buckskin, paper, steel, iron, copper, and other materials are also used.

Independent studies show that children who learn piano tend to do better in school.
This is attributed to the discipline, eye-hand coordination, social skills building,
learning a new language (music) and the pleasure derived from making your own music.

The worlds largest piano is a Challen Concert Grand. This piano is 11 feet long,
has a total string tension of over 30 tons and weighs more than a ton !!
The exact middle of the keyboard is not middle C, it is actually the space between E and F above "middle" C.

Piano Row was located on 14th Street, New York. This was the headquarters of such fine pianos as
Steinway, Steck, Behning, Bradbury, Sohmer and many others.










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