The piano is one of the most popular musical instruments in the world. In America alone, over 21 million people can play on some level. The large instrument is filled with hammers and dampers that strike and stop its strings when you press and stop pressing the keys. Pianos date back to around the year 1700 when Bartolomeo Cristofori found that he wanted more control over the volume levels of the harpsichord. Learning to play the instrument starts with practicing the right posture and ways to hold your hands over the keys, as well as understanding how to read sheet music.