The best musical instrument is the piano.

Thank you for your response. I contend the human voice is the original musical instrument. Not just for this debate and surly not just in theory. My open remarks will address my opponent's main argument that the piano does the best job of conveying general human emotions better than any other instrument. It was said that words "would drag the music down". This is a simple statement that is incorrect. Evidence shown by most all music in our society no matter the time frame of music you look at. Vocals by far exceed instrumentals in the music we as humans listen to. The reason to me is clear; Music touches the heart and soul of us all, either for good or bad. Music with vocals, words, touches our heart, mind and soul. If music can convey emotions and also make us think, use our brain, how much more effective would a human voice be over a piano that can not convey this type of thought along with emotion? As far as piano being the bread and butter of music, Vocals would be the meat and potatoes! The modern key system that the piano uses comes from the thirteenth-century modal music (music for three or four voices). As with most everything our technology of the 20th century music has been improved. But the basic has always been human voice. Chant is the first type of music recorded. My personal belief is that music was in the beginning and it was choirs singing praises. Mosiah 2:28 . . .and my immortal spirit may join the choirs above in singing the praises of a just God. The argument that piano can do more than the human voice, well yes the piano can use polyphony type of music, (carry more that one "line of music") where a single voice is monophony. But many voices, as in a choir, can also do the same. (As for this argument it was not stated that it had to be a single individual playing the piano or singing.) With much more emotion using rhythm, harmony, cadence, timbre and tone, where the piano is limited in timbre. It was stated as the first reason for pro stance that; "the piano requires not only the most talent (both musical AND physical) but the most effort as well to successfully play it well." While in the second round it was stated: "With music (referring to PIANO, not vocal), however, it doesn't require absolute perfection to get the oh-so-amazing and important thought or emotion across to the listener." I contend that the greats not only used the talent that God gave them, but they developed that talent as close to perfection as they could push themselves. Tell me that Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, John Schmidt, David Lanz and many others are not perfectionist! (Side note: You don't know who John Schmidt is?) But it does take talent and developed talent, practice, to get the desired emotion conveyed though music. Voice also requires and immense amount of talent and training. When you hit a note on the piano and want to sustain that note there is very little chance of the pitch of that note changing. Where as to hold a vocal note and not have it change during a sustained hold, well I could send you and example. The point that the piano is better because it takes more talent and the most effort to play well, and then to say that perfection of that instrument is not necessary to convey emotion is like saying someone is more intelligent because they learn easier, but has not put forth and effort to study, than the person who is a master, because of the sacrifice they have made to learn. My point is this. All music requires mastery. So the argument that the piano requires the most effort is not true nor has any validity that would make it the better instrument. Vocal music does not require accompanist, as I am listening to piano music I often hear other instruments adding fill to give it a much more full sound. Have you ever listened to some acappella groups? The talent and sound of some of these are just as full and any piano I have ever heard. (side note: You should look up the group "InsideOut" you would love them. They are LDS.) As to the point of great students of music who take piano as part of their training, I concede. There is no better place to learn about the theory and history of music than a good piano class. But that does not make it the best instrument to convey emotion. It does make it a good place to learn about the art of music, and a great place to understand any instrument you want to master. In closing, Music is wonderful. I love many different kinds of music. I can find a song to help me get up mentally, excited, relaxed and some to worship with. The piano is a wonderful instrument and I love it dearly, but a statement that it is the over all best instrument, is just too broad of a claim. If you look back to the origin of music and where we are now with music, vocals are just too much to ignore that they are the best musical instrument. PS The piano is a percussion instrument! For you who like the triangle and the drums. Also notice my avatar? Come on!