For me, the piano is the symbol of what is stiff, proper and
elegant. It doesn't have faults, it is perfect. Pianists are the
most perfectionist people in the world. They should not and can
not make mistakes especially when performing. That is how I
viewed the piano and the pianists. But then, I just found out I
was wrong. A few researches and I have once again proven that
appearances can be deceiving.

The pianists we see play appear to be the most formal and
respectable stars on the stage. They hold the power and the
breath of the audiences. They could look intimidating in their
formal suits not to mention the authority and the air of
arrogance they exude while on stage. They can be captivating.

But before we forget, these pianists are also human. And humans
do make mistakes. Most of these mistakes can be frustrating and
depressing. But then, there are also mistakes that are amusing
and could also be totally hilarious. It shows how fun could be
inserted even in the most seemingly stuffy and proper event.

Here are some examples:

When asked for their definition of a piano, some famous
musicians and musical enthusiasts have some famous replies:

· For David W. Barber (The Musician's Dictionary), a piano is a
cumbersome piece of furniture found in many homes, where playing
it ensures the early departure of unwanted guests.

· Piano (n.) is a parlor utensil for subduing the impertinent
visitor. It is operated by depressing the keys of the machine
and the spirits of the audience, according to Ambrose Bierce, an
American journalist (The Devil's Dictionary).

· A piano tuner is a person employed to come into the home,
rearrange the furniture, and annoy the cat. The tuner's chief
purpose is to ascertain the breaking point of the piano's
strings.

Though these definitions may sound humorous, you can never miss
the ironies in it. Coming from people who live and breathe the
piano, these definitions seem odd.

Here's more - when asked about their secrets in playing, you
would certainly be surprised at how simple their secrets can be,
and definitely applicable.

· Australian pianist Artur Schnabel said, "I always make sure
that the lid over the keyboard is open before I start to play".

· "Nothing soothes me more after a long and maddening course of
pianoforte recitals than to sit and have my teeth drilled", said
George Bernard Shaw, a writer and a music critic.

I definitely agree with Artur Schnabel's top secret! I wonder
why George found it relaxing to have his teeth drilled after
hearing the pianoforte recitals. Check out more of the piano's
funny side:

· Bob Hope, an American comedian commented on fellow comedian
Phyllis Diller on her playing the piano: "When she started to
play, Steinway himself came down personally and rubbed his name
off the piano."

· A band teacher recalled the title of the song "Claire de Lune"
played by a student as "Claire de Loonie".

· The audiences at a piano recital were appalled when a
telephone rang just off stage. Without missing a note, the
soloist glanced toward the wings and called, "If that's my
agent, tell him I'm working!"

Now, let's check out some famous questions and answers in the
funny world of piano:

· What do you get when you drop a piano down a mine shaft? A
flat minor

· What do you get when you drop a piano on an army base? A flat
major

· Why is an 11-foot concert grand better than a studio upright?
Because is makes a much bigger kaboom when dropped over a cliff.

· Why was the piano invented? So that the musician would have a
place to put his beer.

· Why did they say that the pianist had fingers like lightning?
They never struck the same place twice.

· What did they find when they dug up Beethoven's grave? He was
decomposing.

· Why did Mozart kill his chicken? Because they always ran
around going, "Bach! Bach! Bach!"

· Imagine a singer, a piano player, a bass player and a drummer
sitting around the table. Now if you drop a hundred-dollar bill
right in the middle and tell them they're free to take it, who's
getting it? The piano player. Because the bass player is too
slow, for the winger it's too little money and the drummer
didn't get the assignment.

Now that we've seen the humor under they keyboards, the piano
and the pianists are not as elusive as they seem to be. It is
just like discovering a new type of music. The piano and the
pianist can take not just the breath out of the audiences but
also the laughter as they present not only fine music but
terrific humor as well. Having fun is what life is all about.

About the author:
The author, Ismael D. Tabije, owns the website
http://www.pianos.e-mart4all.com where one can select and buy
digital pianos

Author : Ismael Tabije
Site : www.goarticles.com

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