Keyboard Day

What Is Keyboard Day?

August 8th is "Keyboard Day" in Japan, named for the 88 keys found on a standard piano. The day was proposed as an anniversary by the piano-and-vocal duo "Natural High" and certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association.

Why Does a Piano Have 88 Keys?

When the piano was invented by the Italian instrument maker Cristofori, it had only 54 keys.

• A history of expansion: as composers sought ever wider expressive range, the piano's range gradually grew alongside the development of piano music
• Its modern form: by the 1890s, the now-standard range of 88 keys, spanning just over seven octaves, became fixed
• Its relationship to human hearing: the range of 88 keys is said to closely match the range of pitches the human ear can distinguish

A Pun Built for a Date Full of Eights

August 8th, a date lined with the numeral 8, naturally connects to the piano's 88 keys, making it an easy-to-remember and approachable anniversary. Piano-related concerts and events are held around August 8th every year.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Play a piano yourself, or go listen to a performance
• Learn about the history of how the piano's key count settled at 88
• Listen to your favorite piano piece and take in the breadth of the keyboard's range
• Look back on memories of piano lessons from your childhood

A World of Boundless Sound, Born From Just 88 Keys

From classical to pop, seemingly limitless music has been created from just 88 keys. Let August 8th be a day to listen closely to the number of keys behind all that expressive range.