Listen to a skilled performer playing and it's easy to see why the piano is such a musical favourite - it has a warmth, a rhythm, a range and a level of control unmatched by any other instrument.
Let's consider a variety of musical styles to show just how versatile the piano is.
Classical The music of Bach, Beethoven and Chopin might be what springs to mind when many people think of the piano; and indeed, it's hard to imagine the world of classical music without this amazing instrument.
Interestingly, though, the piano has not been around that long relative to other instruments.
JS Bach (1685-1750) did see the piano in his lifetime, but didn't particularly embrace it; he favoured his harpsichords and organs.
In fact, classical composers though the ages will all have played slightly different versions of the piano as new innovations were invented.
The music we hear performed today would not have been the same sounds the original composers would have imagined.
That's if you could get them off the Xbox, anyway.
Blues The history of blues music is closely associated with poverty and lower social classes, it's no surprise that blues is often associated with small, portable and cheap instruments like the guitar and the harmonica.
But there were great blue composers who wrote for the piano, with notable names like Fats Domino and Ray Charles making blues piano world famous.
Jazz Since the birth of jazz in the early twentieth century, the piano has played a key role.
The nature of jazz made it playable on practically any instrument, from the trumpet to the violin, but the piano was always a favoured tool.
Think Scott Joplin, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Jools Holland - and let's not forget Jamie Cullum - and you'll have traced the history of this rhythmic, flexible musical form.
Rock and Roll As rock and roll was a development of the blues sound, the guitar, drums and double bass were naturally the most prominent instruments, especially once bands started touring from venue to venue seeking fame.
But if there's any doubt that the piano has a place in rock and roll, look no further than one of its pioneers, For example Little Richard, whose playing style was as dynamic as his technique was accomplished.
He double-handedly changed the face of music by influencing Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger and countless others.
Roll over, Beethoven.
Pop Like rock and roll, pop music is associated more with instruments other than the piano, namely the guitar, bass and drums and eventually synthesisers, sequencers and digital music.
But let's not forget how many hit singles have prominent pianos in them: I Don't Like Mondays; Imagine; Let it Be; Wuthering Heights; Hey Jude; many Billy Joel tracks; Great Balls of Fire...
and the complete back catalogue of Barry Manilow.
Other classic pop pianists include Ben Folds, Brian Wilson and Alicia Keys.
No doubt the piano will play a part in future types of music, particularly now that the sound can be digitised and recreated electronically to the satisfaction of even the most critical piano experts.
But the classical and stylish wooden original form may never disappear.
Let's consider a variety of musical styles to show just how versatile the piano is.
Classical The music of Bach, Beethoven and Chopin might be what springs to mind when many people think of the piano; and indeed, it's hard to imagine the world of classical music without this amazing instrument.
Interestingly, though, the piano has not been around that long relative to other instruments.
JS Bach (1685-1750) did see the piano in his lifetime, but didn't particularly embrace it; he favoured his harpsichords and organs.
In fact, classical composers though the ages will all have played slightly different versions of the piano as new innovations were invented.
The music we hear performed today would not have been the same sounds the original composers would have imagined.
That's if you could get them off the Xbox, anyway.
Blues The history of blues music is closely associated with poverty and lower social classes, it's no surprise that blues is often associated with small, portable and cheap instruments like the guitar and the harmonica.
But there were great blue composers who wrote for the piano, with notable names like Fats Domino and Ray Charles making blues piano world famous.
Jazz Since the birth of jazz in the early twentieth century, the piano has played a key role.
The nature of jazz made it playable on practically any instrument, from the trumpet to the violin, but the piano was always a favoured tool.
Think Scott Joplin, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Jools Holland - and let's not forget Jamie Cullum - and you'll have traced the history of this rhythmic, flexible musical form.
Rock and Roll As rock and roll was a development of the blues sound, the guitar, drums and double bass were naturally the most prominent instruments, especially once bands started touring from venue to venue seeking fame.
But if there's any doubt that the piano has a place in rock and roll, look no further than one of its pioneers, For example Little Richard, whose playing style was as dynamic as his technique was accomplished.
He double-handedly changed the face of music by influencing Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger and countless others.
Roll over, Beethoven.
Pop Like rock and roll, pop music is associated more with instruments other than the piano, namely the guitar, bass and drums and eventually synthesisers, sequencers and digital music.
But let's not forget how many hit singles have prominent pianos in them: I Don't Like Mondays; Imagine; Let it Be; Wuthering Heights; Hey Jude; many Billy Joel tracks; Great Balls of Fire...
and the complete back catalogue of Barry Manilow.
Other classic pop pianists include Ben Folds, Brian Wilson and Alicia Keys.
No doubt the piano will play a part in future types of music, particularly now that the sound can be digitised and recreated electronically to the satisfaction of even the most critical piano experts.
But the classical and stylish wooden original form may never disappear.