What we found is that the piano is a "hybrid"--a combination of two types. It's a 'string instrument' because the musical tones originate in the strings; and it's also a 'percussion instrument', because the strings are set into vibration by being struck with hammers.
To be historically correct, it's classified as a "keyed zither" by musicologists.
The piano is the most popular musical instrument in the world. As a concert instrument and the primary musical instrument in private homes, the piano enjoys a long and colorful history as an important source of inspiration and pleasure for both professional and amateur musicians.
Its history is in itself the history of culture. The two oldest, still preserved, pianofortes were made by Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731). The case of one, dated 1720, is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. The other, dated 1726, is in a museum in Leipzig, Germany. Find out more about the history and development of the modern piano at Rennerusa.com.
Learn how to play piano with tips for beginner to advanced players at About.com.