The piano is, without a doubt, one of the most popular and widespread instruments in the world. And if you’re a pianist, you’re probably used to the question, “Do you play any other instruments, too?” It may seem like an odd question at first, but many professional musicians who are famous for one instrument, also play the piano (and vice versa).

But even if you’re only comfortable with the keys, even you can answer “yes” to this question! It’s just a matter of exploring the wide world of keyboard instruments!

Although, here in modern Western culture, we’re most familiar with the piano and keyboard, there are all kinds of keyboard instruments from around the world that you can play too, with just a little practice! Let’s dive in!

Ondes Martenot

This electric keyboard instrument is fairly new, having only been invented in 1928 by Maurice Martinet. Yet, when you listen to it, it may sound familiar – especially during this spooky time of year! That’s right, this instrument is a staple of Halloween music! And you can hear why!

The ondes martenot can be controlled either by playing on its six-octave keyboard, or, more interestingly, by sliding a metal ring worn on the right-hand index finger. Between the sliding ring, the keyboard, and a control panel on the left side that controls dynamics and contains flip-switches which work just like and organ by switching between different sound colors and timbres, there are all kinds of ways to play!

All in all, this is a wildly versatile instrument!

Viola Organista

This incredible instrument was invented by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci himself, leaving drawings that have intrigued instrument makers for centuries! Yet, it was only recently that pianist Slawomir Zubrzycki actually reconstructed the instrument for his own use.

When a key is pressed, the string attached to it touches a turning friction belt, which vibrates the string, very much like how a violin bow moving across the string makes a sound. Da Vinci’s instrument is made up of four wheels that are spun by the performer’s foot pedal.

The resulting sound is very much like a small group of string performers!

Wheelharp

Similar in function to Da Vinci’s viola organista, the wheelharp is a brand-new instrument! Developed only a few years ago by Jon Jones and Mitchell Manager, the keys – and strings attached to them – ae all wrapped around one big wheel!

American Fotoplayer

Okay, so this one isn’t so much a world keyboard instrument, as it is an almost extinct one. But no list of keyboard instruments would be complete without the American Fotoplayer!

You know those old silent movies? The slapstick comedies with the crazy sound effects? Most of that was created with a single, half-automated instrument! Designed specifically to provide music and sound effects for silent movies, the American Fotoplayer stopped production in the mid-1920s, when sound films arrived, and less than 50 have survived. Of that, only 12 are known to still be playable.

You don’t actually need to be a pianist to “play” this machine, but you do need to understand what all its bells and whistles to – literally! All the piano themes are played using piano rolls (which functions similarly to a music box) and the performer needs to follow the on-screen cues while pressing buttons, pushing pedals, and pulling cords to make the right sound effect for what’s going on, on screen.

Carillonneur

There are few instruments that are as complicated as the carillonneur – yet, if you can play the piano, you should be able to take to the carillonneur with relative ease. For this massive instrument, the keyboard keys have been replaced with wooden sticks. The black keys are in a row higher up than the white keys, while the vertical positions (groups of 2 and 3) are the same. Like an organ, this instrument also uses pedals for foot playing.

Each and every wooden stick is attached to a rope. Each rope is attached to a bell clapper. When a wooden stick/key is touched, the clapper gets pulled against its bell. It creates a truly wonderful sound!

Glass Harmonica

Another instrument whose origins are closer to home, the glass harmonica was actually invented in 1761, by none other than Benjamin Franklin. However, once invented, the glass harmonica quickly caught on throughout the world, and especially in Europe. Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss, and more than 100 other household name composers wrote music for the glass harmonica. In fact, the example above was composed my Mozart, specifically for the instrument.

In this configuration, there are 37 bowls, mounted sideways on an iron spindle. The performer uses a foot pedal to turn the entire spindle. Previously, the rings of each bowl were painted in different colours, but today’s harmonicas are coloured quite like a piano, with black stripes on evidential notes.

Gameleste

The final instrument on our list is also new, but it combines the mostly percussive, traditional ensemble music of Indonesia, called “Gamelan,” with a Celeste, which is an instrument that looks somewhat like a piano, but the hammers strike metal plates like a xylophone.

What a truly unique sound it creates!

Bonus!

Typewriter

Okay, not really the same kind of “keyboard,” but would you have every considered the lowly typewriter a soloist in an orchestra?

Well it is in this piece written by Leroy Anderson in 1950!

Have you always wanted to learn to play the piano, but never got around to it? Or maybe your little one has shown some interest in starting to learn?

Now is the time! At The Music Studio, we have piano and keyboard lessons for students of all ages and skill levels! Sign up today, and start down your own musical path!