Player pianos have a long and storied history in family entertainment, beginning with their introduction in the late 1800s. A centerpiece of the family home, player pianos didn’t require training or skill to use but instead played the popular songs of the day by reading perforated paper rolls that directed hammers on the instrument to strike the strings, resulting in a melody and accompaniment. Today’s player pianos, such as those sold by Player Pianos Cincinnati OH, use computers and corresponding software to create the player piano music so many people appreciate.
Several different inventors in Europe and the US began developing the antecedents of the player piano in the middle of the 19th century. After several years of experimentation, this type of piano finally came into its own when it was exhibited at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876. The instrument’s popularity took off in the years immediately following the Exhibition as families clamored to give the pianos a treasured place in their homes. Throughout the rest of the 19th century and into the first decades of the 20th century, manufacturers developed pianos as well as rolls that offered more nuanced tone, tempo and dynamics. The player piano remained popular right up until the Great Depression and radio came on the scene, stopping sales in their tracks.
In the 1950s and 1960s collectors began researching and then restoring or rebuilding player pianos that had been stored in attics, cellars and garages for decades. While bringing back to life old player pianos became a highly enjoyable hobby for many people, the pianos themselves eventually reached a point at which they were no longer reparable. It was then that piano companies, understanding the reasons these instruments had been popular for so long, began to offer digital versions. Today the player piano that held a proud place in the American living room for so many decades is experiencing renewed popularity.
The player piano rolls of yesterday are gone as the instruments move into the wireless age. The player systems can be controlled using an iPad or an iPhone as well as wireless data streams. Many player piano manufacturers offer mobile apps that allow a potential customer to test a player piano before buying it. For true entertainment value, Visit website to see what Player Pianos Cincinnati OH company offers.