Each string is pulled tight to about 165 pounds of tension. Most pianos will have around 230 to 250 strings. When the key is pressed down then it comes in contact with the action and sends the hammer forward to strike the strings. These are the working parts that strike the strings. This part of the piano is the one with 6000 to 7000 parts. Fortunately this action is contained within the instrument so that the case gives it some protection. The small parts may be strong by themselves but a small amout of weight or force can crush them. If a person of any weight fell onto or into an action then they would cause a lot of damage. The mechanism or action inside of the piano is much more delicate. The comedians you see doing this are just making fun with a prop that looks like a piano! It would take a tremendous weight and force to crash thru a real grand piano. This thing is not easy to rip apart! If someone fell inside of a grand piano, even if they weighed 300 pounds, they would not tear through the casing and fall to the floor, with the strings wrapped around them. Plus a heavy cast iron plate bolted and screwed to the inside of the casing. The casing is strong thick wood tightly glued and screwed together with 4 x 4 wooden back beams for extra support. It is not fragile and easily broken like TV shows or movies somtimes make it out to be. The body or case is a very sturdy piece of making. There can be as many as 7000 parts in a piano action, plus many more parts contained in the body or casing.

Although it may be almost as labor intense to build a low quality instrument. Much skill and knowledge are required for makers to build a good quality piano. The process of building this instrument is very labor intense. Piano making slowly developed and improved throughout the 17 and 18 hundreds. There have been many piano makers since the history of piano making began over 300 years ago in Italy when Cristofori made the first piano.

Davenport treacy baby grand piano