piano

1. A modern keyboard instrument that produces sounds by hammers striking strings. These hammers are activated by keys, depressed by the performer's fingers. The piano is typically equipped with pedals that control the dampers which stop the vibration of the strings. When the pedal is pressed by the performer's foot, the dampers are lifted from the strings, and the strings are allowed to vibrate freely. The muting pedal softens the volume of the piano. The piano is an extremely popular instrument in Classical, Romantic, Post-Romantic, Modern, Jazz, Pop, Rock, and Folk music.