An upright or vertical piano selectably playable in a normal mode and in a soft mode comprises: a set of multiple piano keys; a set of multiple piano actions associated with said multiple piano keys, each said piano action comprising a piano hammer assembly and a piano wippen assembly actuated by depression of a corresponding said piano key; a set of multiple piano hammers, each said piano hammer mounted for rotating movement and defining a forward throw direction toward at least one corresponding piano string, each said piano hammer being driven by a corresponding said piano wippen assembly to transmit force applied to an associated said piano key; a soft pedal system, the soft pedal system comprising a soft pedal, and a hammer resting rail mounted for movement between a normal mode position with said set of multiple piano hammers at a spaced distance from corresponding piano strings and a soft mode position with the set of multiple piano hammers in positions relatively closer to the corresponding said piano strings, and a soft pedal actuation device of the soft pedal system, wherein actuation of the soft pedal causes movement of the hammer resting rail from the normal mode position toward the soft mode position and lifts said piano wippen assemblies along with said piano hammers; a set of multiple bridle straps, each said bridle strap connecting a said piano hammer to a corresponding said piano wippen assembly; characterized in that the upright or vertical piano further comprises an adjustable key lifting assembly in engagement with said piano keys, wherein said key lifting assembly is adjustable to maintain corresponding said piano keys and said piano wippen assemblies together in contact with each other during lifting of the hammers to the positions relatively closer to the corresponding said piano strings, and wherein the bridle straps are under tension and have maximum spans selected to maintain corresponding said piano wippen assemblies and said piano hammers in proximity to, or in engagement with each other during the lifting, wherein the maximum spans are constant between an initial, unplayed position and final position of a respective key. a set of multiple piano keys; a set of multiple piano actions associated with said multiple piano keys, each said piano action comprising a piano hammer assembly and a piano wippen assembly actuated by depression of a corresponding said piano key; a set of multiple piano hammers, each said piano hammer mounted for rotating movement and defining a forward throw direction toward at least one corresponding piano string, each said piano hammer being driven by a corresponding said piano wippen assembly to transmit force applied to an associated said piano key; a soft pedal system, the soft pedal system comprising a soft pedal, and a hammer resting rail mounted for movement between a normal mode position with said set of multiple piano hammers at a spaced distance from corresponding piano strings and a soft mode position with the set of multiple piano hammers in positions relatively closer to the corresponding said piano strings, and a soft pedal actuation device of the soft pedal system, wherein actuation of the soft pedal causes movement of the hammer resting rail from the normal mode position toward the soft mode position and lifts said piano wippen assemblies along with said piano hammers; a soft pedal, and a hammer resting rail mounted for movement between a normal mode position with said set of multiple piano hammers at a spaced distance from corresponding piano strings and a soft mode position with the set of multiple piano hammers in positions relatively closer to the corresponding said piano strings, and a soft pedal actuation device of the soft pedal system, wherein actuation of the soft pedal causes movement of the hammer resting rail from the normal mode position toward the soft mode position and lifts said piano wippen assemblies along with said piano hammers; a set of multiple bridle straps, each said bridle strap connecting a said piano hammer to a corresponding said piano wippen assembly; characterized in that the upright or vertical piano further comprises an adjustable key lifting assembly in engagement with said piano keys, wherein said key lifting assembly is adjustable to maintain corresponding said piano keys and said piano wippen assemblies together in contact with each other during lifting of the hammers to the positions relatively closer to the corresponding said piano strings, and wherein the bridle straps are under tension and have maximum spans selected to maintain corresponding said piano wippen assemblies and said piano hammers in proximity to, or in engagement with each other during the lifting, wherein the maximum spans are constant between an initial, unplayed position and final position of a respective key.