Jane Pierce ([log in to unmask]) wrote:

>My students are being told at school that the piano (manual) is a
>presently being classified as a string instrument rather than what I always
>was taught, piano is a precussion instrument because the hammers hit the
>strings.  I am wondering if the new nomenclature comes because strings are
>a greater part of the structure of the instrument.  Why was it classified
>as a percussion instrument before?

The strings are struck with hammers, which is certainly precussive in
nature.  And Bartok would, I'm sure, have considered the piano in his Music
for Strings, Percussion and Celesta to be part of the percussion section,
not the strings.

Bizarre.

Deryk Barker
[log in to unmask]