The piano is the most versatile instrument around, equally at home in classical, jazz, pop and rock music. It's also an instrument of torture for some people, haunted by childhood memories of trying to learn their scales. I never learned to play, which I regret, because I love piano music in all its forms.

The instrument was the exclusive property of the wealthy in the past. It was part of a young lady's education to achieve a measure of accomplishment as a pianist, and she was expected to give recitals to guests at family soirees.   As the cost came down, the middle and working classes were at last able to buy their own piano, which sat proudly in the best room. Families would gather round and have sing songs.  The automated player piano, with its rolling canister of recorded piano music was very fashionable at one time. The piano would eventually be replaced as the heart of the household by the wireless and later, the television set.

In the world of classical music, there is a division between people who think historical piano music should be played on original style instruments and those who think they should be played on a modern piano. Composers such as Liszt, Brahms and Hadyn would have played on instruments quite different from the ones that we are familiar with today. The piano has gone through many changes over the years, in appearance and sound. Some people want the authentic tone of the original, whilst others prefer the technical reliability of today's piano.

I love to listen to both solo pieces and concerto compositions (with orchestra), for the piano. My own favorite classical composers are Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, Scarlatti and Ravel. Many composers suffered difficulties and tragedy. Of course, we know that Beethoven became deaf and Chopin succumbed to tuberculosis. He often played whilst coughing up blood onto the piano keys. Piano music is also suited to jazz, from the ragtime sound of Scott Joplin through boogie woogie and the contemporary music of Thelonius Monk and Oscar Peterson. Minimalist composers such as Philip Glass also write well for the piano. Rock and Roll has also produced some fine pianists, namely the energetic Jerry Lee Lewis. He could play with his elbows and never fluffed a note. Electronic keyboards make a big contribution to music, but piano music will always have a place in just about every musical genre.