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The Walking Piano, also called the Big Piano by its creator, Remo Saraceni, is an oversized
The Original Big Piano official websitethe Big Piano Trademark Certificate
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walking Piano Piano Keyboard instruments Experimental musical instruments 1976 musical instruments
The Walking Piano, also called the Big Piano by its creator, Remo Saraceni, is an oversized synthesizer
A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
. Merging dance, music, and play, it is played by the user's feet tapping the keys to make music. Versions of the piano have been installed in museums, children's hospitals, and other public places around the world.
History
Remo Saraceni created a musical daisy for the Bicentennial Celebration in Philadelphia (Design for Fun). From there the concept grew. It took shape with an intermediate stop at an interactive futon, and the first "Big Piano" was built in 1982. The piano was on display at the FAO Schwarz toy store in New York City when famed movie producer/directorSteven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spie ...
's sister saw it and told her brother all about it.
Versions
An early, one-octave version of the Walking Piano was installed at FAO Schwarz in New York City in 1982. A new three-octave version was specifically created for the 1988 Tom Hanks movie '' Big'' at the request of director Penny Marshall. That piano was housed in the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until about 2013. Another version of the piano was one made by Elliot Seth Newman, CEO and Founder of Kids Station Toys. This version was sold at select retail stores such asTarget
Target may refer to:
Physical items
* Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports
** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports
** Aiming point, in field artillery, fi ...
, Toys R Us, Walmart, and others. This version was sold as the, "Kids Station Toys: Step-On Piano." The product retailed for about $40 USD. Kids Station Toys made many other piano related toys that succeeded and successfully made millions, the top being the, "Fisher PriceTM Elephant Piano."
Reception
The Walking Piano has continued to enjoy media success, appearing in movies such as '' The Night Before'' starring Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It has also featured in TV series such as ''Dancing With The Stars
''Dancing with the Stars'' is the name of various international television series based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing'', which is distributed by BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the forma ...
'', '' Puttin' On the Ritz '', '' The Simpsons'' and ''The Voice Season Premier Feat John Legend''. It was also named as one of the most iconic movie props ever.
See also
* Piano *Digital piano
A digital piano is a type of electronic keyboard instrument designed to serve primarily as an alternative to the traditional acoustic piano, both in how it feels to play and in the sound it produces. Digital pianos use either synthesized emulat ...
* Fortepiano
A fortepiano , sometimes referred to as a pianoforte, is an early piano. In principle, the word "fortepiano" can designate any piano dating from the invention of the instrument by Bartolomeo Cristofori in 1698 up to the early 19th century. Mo ...
* Musical keyboard
* Organ (music)
* Electric organ
*
References
External links
The Original Big Piano official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walking Piano Piano Keyboard instruments Experimental musical instruments 1976 musical instruments