Classroom Publication

  This was probably the first time for many students at the University of Albany to hear the toy piano, but this small instrument has had a long history in music:

1872- Albert Schoenhut a German immigrant invent the toy piano in Philadelphia.

1948- John Cag creates the famous "Suite for Toy Piano".

1951- In the Peanuts cartoon strip, Schroeder is introduced for the first time. He becomes synonymous with playing Beethoven on a toy piano.

1970- Bernd Wiesemann, a pioneer in the art of the toy piano, performes in concert in Germany.

1993- Wiesemann releases CD entitled "New music for Toy Piano" featuring compositions from Francisco Estevez, Andreas Kunstein, and John Cage.

1997- Margaret Leng Tan, a famous pianist, releases "The Art of the Toy Piano." On the CD, she plays her own original pieces as well as interpretations of works from Beethoven and The Beatles.

2001- Yann Tiersen uses the toy piano in the score of the romantic French comedy Amelie.

2005-"Sorceress of the New Piano", a documentary by Evan Chans investigates the music behind Margaret Leng Tan and debuts in the San Francisco Asian American Film Festival.              

           -The toy piano is used in the popular song   Catch My  Disease by Ben Lee. The song becomes internationally recognized and is featured on the hit drama "Grey's Autonomy."

            -Matt Malsky and David Claman put together "The  Extensible Toy Piano Project." This is an international competiton that took place at Clark Uniservity, fearturing over 14 world premiers from 9 different countries.

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