Keyboard Day

What Is Keyboard Day?

August 8th is "Keyboard Day" in Japan, named for the 88 keys found on a standard piano. It was established by the piano-and-vocal unit "Natural High" and recognized by the Japan Anniversary Association (its recognition was reported in 2007).

Why Does a Piano Have 88 Keys?

The piano was invented around 1700 by the Italian instrument maker Bartolomeo Cristofori. Because it could play both soft (piano) and loud (forte) notes, it was called the "pianoforte," and at first it had only about 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 around the 1890s, the now-standard range of 88 keys, spanning seven and a quarter octaves, is said to have become fixed
• The range of 88 keys: the lowest A is about 27.5 Hz and the highest C about 4,186 Hz, made up of 52 white keys and 36 black keys

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. Natural High holds concerts and events around August 8th every year. Japan also has a separate "Piano Day" on July 6th.

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.