Piano Songs Please

Why are piano songs so appealing to such a variety of people? Before that question can be answered, perhaps a deeper question should be addressed. What's so appealing about the piano? Here are some thoughts.

The piano is accessible. So many households and institutions have one. These instruments also give you an instantaneous sound, unlike, for instance, a French horn. With French horns, just getting some wind through that long, curving column is a feat in itself, let alone getting any sort of sound or volume. That being said, the sound that a properly played French horn attains is truly magical.

Well maintained keyboards are also, for the most part, in tune, unlike a violin. Of course, violins can, and are, tuned before a practice session and a performance. However, unlike a keyboard, violins have to be conscientiously played in tune, as part of a comprehensive and professional performance. A piano is taken for granted as being in tune during a professional piano recital.

Pianos can be made to sound good fairly quickly by an amateur. This is truly not always the case with other orchestral instruments. In my estimation, very few instruments give students quick results, with a couple of exceptions being the guitar and a standard drum set.

A lot of repertoire has been written for the piano and other types of keyboards. This is attractive in that a large variety of pieces are there to choose from.

Suffice to say, the piano is popular. Now let's briefly have a look at the word song, in terms of its definition and popularity. This word usually implies or is associated with a piece of music to be sung with words. If this is the case, then the title of this essay, Piano Songs Please, is a bit of an oxymoron. Pianos don't sing... or do they? Well, they certainly don't spew out lyrics when a key is pressed, unless programmed to do so by a computer and by means of a controller keyboard.

Over time, however, the term song has been popularized to include any type of piece of music of a fairly short duration. Even before this modern definition, nineteenth century composers most certainly realized the potential of songs that weren't sung by a human voice. One needn't look any further than composer Mendelssohn and his famous Songs Without Words.

What we have implied in the term piano songs is a catchy tune on a popular and attractive instrument. It's a double-whammy, just like any of these made up terms written off the top of my head: beautiful rocket-scientist (good looking and smart), articulate boxing champion (an intelligent lethal weapon), relaxed crime fighter (a happy-go-lucky person who knows when and where to have a no nonsense approach to life).

As for specific piano songs, Felix Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words has already been mentioned. Here's another obvious choice, in terms of popularity: Beethoven's Fur Elise. It would be challenging to find another piano work that rivals this gem's popularity. This composition has been arranged in so many different ways and is still as popular today as it was in its day. Although Beethoven may not have thought of it as a song in his day, I can't tell you how many people state, upon hearing the opening phrase of Fur Elise, "I love that song".

It is undeniable that a great instrument and a wonderful little tune are an irresistible combination. Buy a piano, learn a catchy tune and reap the rewards!

Come and learn the basics of piano playing and music theory in a fun filled environment, great for all ages and levels. Piano Lessons 101 will guide you through the wonderful world of learning an instrument on your own, including learning how to read music and understanding things such as major chords and harmony. Sign up for our free piano lessons practice guide now.

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