Keyboards
Keyboard instruments include: Pianos, Organs, Harpsichords, Accordions, Harmoniums, electronic keyboards and synthesizers.
Keyboard instruments are named as such because they have a row of horizontally arranged keys which the player depresses in order to achieve a sound. There are several types of keyboard instruments, with possible further variations within these types. For example, electronic keyboards come in several sizes (with full size keys or smaller keys), several lengths (the number of octaves, some have only a few octaves, while others have 88 keys), with several different features (backing tracks, drum beats, alternative voicing and split modes, etc) and with the option of touch-sensitive keys (to emulate a real piano).
Keyboard players use both hands to operate the keys – depressing the keys as required and often using several fingers at a time to create chords or polyphonic textures. Music for keyboard instruments is written on two stave lines for this reason; one stave for each hand. Organists also use both feet, as well as hands, to control several pedals. Organ music often has a third line for the pedals operated by the feet. It can be seen that keyboard instruments require plenty of co-ordination between brain and limbs; and this skill is developed and enhanced through practice.
The span of an octave on a keyboard instrument has been standardized to suit the average span of the human hand, though for some people it is possible to reach further than this – some of the most well known piano composers, such as Liszt and Rachmaninov, are known for there especially big hands and long fingers. This is demonstrated in their compositions, where a long finger span is sometimes needed. Most players can get round this by spreading chords and substituting notes. Thankfully, having big hands is not key to being successful when playing a keyboard instrument; Mozart had notably small hands and still wrote beautiful music and played beautifully.
Whilst keyboard instruments are not part of a modern standard orchestra, they are very effective in popular music groups (most commonly pianos, electronic keyboards and synthesizers) and play a crucial part in small jazz groups. Keyboard instruments are usually versatile enough to be played solo (as they can produce harmonies, and chord progressions). Harpsichords were very important in the Baroque Era (c.1650-1750) as a basso continuo instrument, realizing figured bass (more basically, playing the bass line in an ensemble group and improvising harmonies from figures written in the score).
Keyboard instruments include: Pianos, Organs, Harpsichords, Accordions, Harmoniums, electronic keyboards and synthesizers.
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Keyboard instruments are named as such because they have a row of horizontally arranged keys which the player depresses in order to achieve a sound. There are several types of keyboard instruments, with possible further variations within these types. For example, electronic keyboards come in several sizes (with full size keys or smaller keys), several lengths (the number of octaves, some have only a few octaves, while others have 88 keys), with several different features (backing tracks, drum beats, alternative voicing and split modes, etc) and with the option of touch-sensitive keys (to emulate a real piano).
Keyboard players use both hands to operate the keys – depressing the keys as required and often using several fingers at a time to create chords or polyphonic textures. Music for keyboard instruments is written on two stave lines for this reason; one stave for each hand. Organists also use both feet, as well as hands, to control several pedals. Organ music often has a third line for the pedals operated by the feet. It can be seen that keyboard instruments require plenty of co-ordination between brain and limbs; and this skill is developed and enhanced through practice.
The span of an octave on a keyboard instrument has been standardized to suit the average span of the human hand, though for some people it is possible to reach further than this – some of the most well known piano composers, such as Liszt and Rachmaninov, are known for there especially big hands and long fingers. This is demonstrated in their compositions, where a long finger span is sometimes needed. Most players can get round this by spreading chords and substituting notes. Thankfully, having big hands is not key to being successful when playing a keyboard instrument; Mozart had notably small hands and still wrote beautiful music and played beautifully.
Whilst keyboard instruments are not part of a modern standard orchestra, they are very effective in popular music groups (most commonly pianos, electronic keyboards and synthesizers) and play a crucial part in small jazz groups. Keyboard instruments are usually versatile enough to be played solo (as they can produce harmonies, and chord progressions). Harpsichords were very important in the Baroque Era (c.1650-1750) as a basso continuo instrument, realizing figured bass (more basically, playing the bass line in an ensemble group and improvising harmonies from figures written in the score).
