PREPARED PIANO

John Cage coined this term to describe his internal modifications to the standard piano in order to change the sounds it produces. Typically, he inserted pieces of metal, paperclips, erasers, rubber bands, wooden spoons, and other objects between the strings. He played both the keys and the strings, sometimes depressing the keyboard in order to free the strings from the dampers. These modifications transformed the piano from primarily a melodic instrument into a percussive one. Among...