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Is The Piano Dead?

I'm always amazed at how many people seem to think the piano is no longer popular.

Isn't the piano dead, they ask? I mean, do people really still play the piano anymore?

They seem to think because there are so many other diversions these days (iPods, xBox, television, the Internet, etc.) there must be very few people still playing the piano.

Admittedly, it isn't as popular as it was in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, but I'm here to tell you it's still enjoyed by millions of people and attracting new players all the time.

How do I know?

I run a popular web site called Piano World (www.PianoWorld.com).

Piano World averages about five million page views a month. That means five million times a month, somebody who is interested in the piano is viewing some page on my site.

Our Piano Forums currently (August 2006) have about 18,000 members (and thousands of visitors who haven't bothered to register), with new members joining every day (membership is free). And they are a talkative bunch, having created well over five million posts, with over 350 new posts going up every day!

Members come from all over the world, and all walks of life. The include concert artists, piano dealers, tuners, teachers, jazz musicians, manufacturers, amateurs, you name it.

But they all share a common interest ... They Love The Piano!

The forums members are a great community. They get together in groups all around the country, sometimes at a member's home, sometimes at a dealers store. They have parties, play for each other, tour piano factories, have "piano crawls" (where they visit a bunch of piano stores), and more. Some of the members even got together and created a Piano Forums CD.

And they are very helpful, supporting each other with information, encouragement, and feedback.

What kind of pianos do they own?

Everything from square grand's (they aren't really square, that's just what they are called) to spinets, consoles, and uprights, electronic pianos, digital pianos and keyboards, to baby grand's and concert grand's.

And what did they pay for these pianos?

Anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars, to over $100,000!

So, who is playing the piano?

Professionals, amateurs, adult beginners, children, people going back to the piano after years away, teens, stay at home moms, all kinds of people.

Based on what we've seen on Piano World (and other piano sites), I'd have to say...

The Piano is Alive and Well!

Frank Baxter
Owner
Piano World
http://www.PianoWorld.com
Home of the world famous Piano Forums
http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php