Billy Elliot †Film Review Essay

Recently I watched a film entitled Billy Elliot. I personally thought that the film was great in several ways, scripts, film techniques .etc. Every aspects of the film were thought out with detail. The film was set in 1984 when the miners’ strike took place. The unique setting adds to why I like this film so much. Billy Elliot was directed by Stephen Daldry, and 1st published in the year 2000. Today this film still remains popular as a family movie. The story was told from the main character point of view, that is Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell). Billy was an eleven year old boy who has a dream to become a ballet dancer, after inheriting his mother’s love for dance and music. Unfortunately, Billy’s dream was opposed by his father, Jackie (Gary Lewis) and his brother (Jamie Draven). Every member of Billy’s family were coal miners and expected Billy to follow the same footsteps. However, this does not shatter Billy’s dream. Billy, supported by his friend, Michael (Stuart Wells), chooses to attend ballet classes outside his family’s knowledge. The film’s setting was in 1984 when a yearlong strike took place in Britain. Billy’s parents happen to be the coal miners involved in the strike. Throughout the film, the family’s struggle through the strike was filmed with much detail. Meanwhile Billy Elliot hopes to be a dancer. Billy’s father has already had enough struggles with the strike, and is enraged when he finds out the Billy has been attending classes without him knowing, and forbids ballet. Billy still remains firm and continued to pursue his dreams. Would Billy achieve his dream? Watch the film and find out. The main theme of Billy Elliot is mainly family issues and stereotyping. The film was set in the 1980s when stereotyping was done often. This affects Billy who wants to become a ballet dancer. Unfortunately, it was not only the public who stereotyped but Billy’s family too! After neither Billy nor his family are giving in to either accept Billy’s wish or to give up, family issues occur. The harsh struggle during the strike means even more family issues. If you pay attention various film techniques were used such as: music, the lightings or the camera’s angle. An example would be the image of the sky representing that the world is opening up as Billy is leaving for London. Sad moments include when everybody else is indoors celebrating Christmas as on the contrary, Billy’s father has to destroy the piano for wood to burn. The movie Billy Elliot is directed towards any age group, however it is not recommended for children under thirteen due to inappropriate aspects such as swearing or violence. Overall I give the film was great and I give it four out of five stars.

Odysseus’ story Essay

SOME ARE monsters, some are slaves, some are beautiful and cunning women and some are powerful kings. In Homeric literature, a character is either good or bad depending on their xenia or shape (e.g. Charybdis). However, from reading ‘The Odyssey’, one can see the admirable characters and the not so admirable characters. Such characters have either good or bad xenia, old or young, male or female, some can be a menial as a slave (such as Eumaeus) and some can be as great as a Troy hero and king (such as Nestor). This is an exploration of whether or not Eumaeus is the most admirable character in ‘The Odyssey’ or not. We first meet Odysseus’ swineherd in Book Fourteen in the porch of his hut. He had been caring for Odysseus’ property during his absence. Odysseus appears to him as a beggar and despite the status that such person has, Eumaeus being but a servant understands xenia and entertains Odysseus by preparing a feast for him.  In Book Fourteen, Eumaeus grieves not only for the loss of Odysseus but also for Telemachus who had gone to find his father. It is clear from Book Sixteen, that Eumaeus loves Telemachus like a father loves a son as when he returns he drops everything and kisses Telemachus and cries with pleasure of his safe return to Ithaca. He shows respect for his masters in Book Fourteen, another admirable trait, when he says to the disguised Odysseus that servants can’t give admirable gifts when they work in fear of their overpowering masters. This shows that Eumaeus understands his place an Odysseus and Telemachus both recognise this and treat Eumaeus with great respect. One could argue that Homer created Eumaeus as the most admirable character as there is a not in Book Fourteen that claims that Homer loved his created character and sometimes the literature speaks directly to Eumaeus.  After Eumaeus’ prayer that Odysseus may return, Odysseus feels that it is right that he should reveal his scar and prove that he is with them. The text says that Eumaeus is overwhelmed to see his master again and is weeping and kissing him so much, that if Odysseus hadn’t stopped them, it would have gone on all day and all night! This shows a great and respecting love for the King of Ithaca. Eumaeus speaks out, bravely (or foolishly some could argue) against the Suitors. This shows bravery in his character as well as loyalty and love. He is truly characterised as a noble and respectable person. He also helps in the execution of the maidservants and the mutilation of Melanthius.  All of the above describe how admirable Eumaeus is and there is not a point in the text when he is not admirable, loving, kind or brave. However, there are other admirable characters in ‘The Odyssey’. I would argue that King Nestor of Pylos, a hero against Troy with Odysseus, is an admirable character in ‘The Odyssey’. He is a very generous host and actually is so generous and so loyal to xenia that in Book Fifteen, Telemachus pleads with Nestor’s son, Peisistratus (Telemachus’ Patroclus type character) to not let him see Telemachus, as he will keep him against his will with his passion for hospitality! Some could argue that this in its self is an abuse of xenia. Nestor also stops Telemachus from sleeping on his ‘hollowed ship’ and says that he should sleep in the palace. This shows true loyalty to xenia. Before this however, Nestor believes that Telemachus even looks like Odysseus and tells Telemachus of his faith in him. This shows a caring for his friend’s family. Nestor is even kind enough to let his son act as a friend and guardian to Telemachus on his journeys.  Nestor’s character is one of great caring and compassion and he looks out for Telemachus as a father would look out for a son and I think that this is a truly admirable trait of King Nestor. Another admirable character is Antinous and Arete’s daughter, Nausicaa, princess of Phaeacia. She meets Odysseus when he has been washed up on the shore of the island and is wearing no more than a fig leaf over his genitalia. Anyone would have thought him mad or overly promiscuous, however, despite her first impressions, the young woman hears of Odysseus’ story and shows pity on the great man in his miserable state. She orders her ladies to bathe him and even tells him how to get into the city and speak with her father, Antinous through his wife Arete). With all this guidance she shows mercy on a man in a state where others would have either ran or jeered at him. This shows a merciful character in Nausicaa and for such a young girl she has an understanding of xenia. She falls in love with Odysseus and she is even offered by Antinous as a wife for Odysseus, but Odysseus is having none of it and just wants his presents and one of their good ships to go home in.  Nausicaa demonstrates mercy on Odysseus in the only time we see him as being so disparate and needy for help. The only time when he loses face and the only time really when all he has are his articulate words to help him out of situation. This shows that Nausicaa probably knew that Odysseus was a great man and that his state would have de-motivated him so the very fact that she shows such compassion towards him shows that she sympathises with his situation. This I believe is a very admirable thing to do and shows great intelligence for someone so young. Therefore, Eumaeus is one of the most admirable but not the most. Nestor and Nausicaa, both explored above are equally as admirable but in slightly different ways. Eumaeus’ admiralty comes from his loyalty to Odysseus and his want to defend his right to be loyal. Nestor is admirable for his hospitality and the way he speaks of Odysseus and the help that he gives to Telemachus on his journey to track down his father. Lastly, Nausicaa is admirable as she is able to trust a man that others would have thought bonkers. He appears to her naked and she accepts his honesty and mercifully helps him due to his articulate speech. Homer has truly created some of the greatest characters in the world of literature and these good and admirable persons are part of the huge enjoyment one has when one reads his ‘Odyssey’.

Viruses and Worms Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Viruses and Worms - Research Paper Example This research paper aims to present a detailed overview of computer viruses and worms, that are present in today's era of computer and communication technology. The major difference between a virus and a worm is that a virus needs a user to execute it on a computer which activates it to offer damages and troubles, whereas a computer worm distributes as well as brings about a lot of harm without any involvement of a person. We usually have to perform a task, such as opening an email attachment to infect a computer system. In this report the researcher have presented a deep analysis of computer viruses and computer worms at the present age of technology. Progressively, it is observed that computer viruses and worms are turning out to be more widespread. The modern technology and programming techniques have massively helped computer programmers and hackers to write malicious code to bring devastation to computer system. In this report the researcher also have presented types of viruses and worms, techniques of dispersion, their potential harm to the computer, possible protection techniques and afterward methods of removal of computer viruses and worms. With the passage of time we are expected to have deep knowledge of computer viruses and worms and their potential influences on computer technology. In conclusion, the researcher hopes that this research will facilitate effectively in gaining knowledge of computer viruses and worms and their potential impact in the field of computing.

Environmental lab Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Environmental lab - Assignment Example In comparisons of the two in terms of energy potential, nuclear produces 10100 energy from an equivalent 1 kg of both. Therefore, there is no doubt nuclear potential is very impressive, but the two have got environmental impacts that needs thorough consideration (Caldicott, 2007). For this research, the main methodology for data collection was animation from MUSE lab. After login, data was collected in accordance with the time changes along the time frame. The data on the quantity of carbon, sulphur, amount of both uranium and coal needed, and accident associated with each are recorded for analysis. From the gathered data, it can be seen that large quantity of Coal is burn than uranium and at the same time carbon dioxide emission is higher when using coal. Sulphur pollution lacks in nuclear plants. Very little is produced as waste in the nuclear plant whole year through while when using coal massive waste is produced (Neeb, 1997). When it comes to accidents, nuclear plants have put in place tight measures in order to reduce accidents as much as possible. Mostly, reaction of uranium is very severe and leads to the production of high energy. As a result, nuclear power is proving to be more sustainable though its safety is still questionable (GiereÃŒ  & Stille,

Health Disparities Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 75

Health Disparities - Assignment Example For example, health statistics indicate that African Americans experience the highest mortality rates from cerebrovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, cancer and heart disease more than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). Most of the American Indians die from unintentional injuries, cirrhosis, liver disease and diabetes. The reasons for these health disparities among racial and ethnic groups is complex and clearly not understood, but they largely relate to socioeconomic differences, environmental degradation, differences in health-related risk factors, and direct and indirect impacts of racial and ethnic discrimination (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). This paper, therefore, reflects on two articles and establishes whether the information and data presented hold true in addressing health disparities among racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., and further recommends solutions to practices or beliefs that seem to support these biased patterns. Jack Geiger, in his article â€Å"Racial and ethnic disparities in diagnosis and treatment: a review of the evidence and a consideration of causes,† reviewed a number of researched works addressing health disparities issues in the United States. He established that the fundamental explanations of disparities and the key determinants of population health status among American racial and ethnic groups lie in physical, social, and economic environment, which are, in turn, influenced by the larger society’s values, norms, political economy, and social stratification systems (Geiger, 2003). He further identifies that the two variables that most studies frequently cited as the leading cause of disparities reflected beliefs and values which are common in the larger society. The first is biological differences (racial) as a significant contributor to health disparities. I agree with the author that, in spite of the current understanding of race as a social concept, the notion of the significance of racial grouping, in terms of medical grounds, continues to appear even in the current societies.  Ã‚  

Brand community Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Brand community - Essay Example Brand community is a set of individuals who relate to each other for their interest in some brand or product (Flavià ¡n & Guinalà ­u, 2005). Such brand communities have become the focus of attention for marketers of all products and services. Sports and particularly football has become big business, drawing the attention to brand communities. The brands communities, according to Seo et al., are not bound by personal relations but are based on looser, more impersonal links. The strength of the community and the members’ identification with the community are associated with consumers’ consumption of the core product or product augmentations or brand extensions. The members of the community feel an intrinsic connection with one another which Muniz, Albert and O’Guinn describe as ‘consciousness of kind’ – a shared consciousness, a way of thinking about things that is more than shared attitudes. Such communities also share rituals and traditions and they have a sense of moral responsibility to the community as a whole and to the individual members. This sense of morality can in times of threat, protect the community and produce collective action. A community forms because of certain shared traditions, rituals, behavior patterns or values. According to Muniz and Schau (2005) religious a ffiliation are vital to brand communities. Consumer behavior thus depends on the individual society and its characteristics. The character and structure of the communities are further affected by the commercial and mass-mediated ethos. Brand communities are different from subcultures although they may have some commonalities. The meaning that sub-cultures create stand in opposition or indifference to the meanings that is generally accepted. Brand communities are united by their commonalities and they are communities of limited liability (Muniz, Albert and O’Guinn). They are legitimate forms of community

Current issues in financial reporting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Current issues in financial reporting - Essay Example 549-586). This paper explains the importance of financial reporting in organization, and gives the reasons for and against capitalising human resources in the financial statements of a company. Discussion Financial reporting entails communication of useful financial information for making credit, investment and other decisions in business. Reports to the stockholders on quarterly and annual basis, financial statement notes, prospectuses on issuance of security and common stock, and the external financial statements, like the income statements, stockholder’s equity statement, cash flow statements and the statements on stock equity. Financial reporting enhances delivery of information to the shareowners and lenders in business; it is usually component of the essential contract between them since they have the right to know the spending of their money and the returning profits (Ballweiser, 2004). In UK, big changes in financial reporting are under the Financial Services sector. T he Accounting Standards Board, ASB issued exposure drafts that detail the proposals for financial reporting in UK. ... The demand for more transparency ensures growth to the interests of an organization in order to meet such demand constructively. The organization will, therefore, have a strategic value in clarifying for the critical performance as well as internal management of the organization communication. This leads to effective allocation of capital in the organization, and critical in achieving a special attention within the accounting research. Reason for Capitalizing Human Resource in UK Human capital forms the main asset in service companies. The success of an organization can be rated depending on the  employees and customers they retain (Francis, Lafond, Olsson, & Schipper 2005, p. 295-327). Several studies on human resource measurement aim at providing the management of any organization with the traditional financial statements, as well as additional information. The intangible asset from many organizations is more critical than the tangible assets. Intangible assets comprise of the su ccess factors needed for maximization of profits and continual survival of the organization. Like human resource, while the intangible assets comprise of the fixed assets like property. The financial information from the financial statements is considered incomplete when they fail to cover and account the human resources. Financial measuring and reporting by businesses in UK enhance the management and evaluation of people’s performance. This ensures greater transparency on value creation through effective policies and practices that benefit stakeholders and the organization at large. The management of people by an organization impacts their performance. The feature of good managerial practices

Information systerm assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Information systerm assignment - Essay Example Though, geographically speaking, the world may actually be round and may consist of places thousands of miles apart but these distances have been bridged by the current prevalent technological advancements. This was exactly the basis of the thoughts expressed by renowned American columnist and writer Thomas Friedman who wrote a famous piece of work titles â€Å"It’s a flat world, After All†. Many a school of thoughts liked and appreciated the theories presented by Friedman and adhered to them but many other thought it wasn’t as practical as it posed itself to be. The present discussion is aimed at discussing the thoughts presented by Friedman and commenting upon them in line with some of the concepts we have gone through in our course of information systems. Generally speaking, since information systems have been the core theme of course being studied, the concept that has concretely been established is that information systems have assisted man since their incep tion in an irreplaceable manner. By taking raw data as input with respect to the organization’s requirements, information systems process it and produce the output required by the stakeholders of that organizational level. The perspective discussed by Friedman is narrated henceforth. Friedman emphasizes that the world of today is nothing but flat. How he comes to that conclusion is by his trip to India where he was amazed to find that local men knew so much the world out there that was not expected from a South Asian developing nation. He strongly advocates Globalization. He mentions that globalization has intermingled the world to such an enormous level that anything happening in one part of the world instantly gets transmitted across thousands of miles without anytime lapse. He accredits the advent of Netscape Navigator (First Internet Surfing Browser) as being a trigger in this age of globalization in which man lives today. Friedman got particularly enthralled when he saw that outsourcing was no more a problem due to the technological advancements. Designers and entrepreneurs from the western countries could easily interact with programmers in the south Asian countries at runtime via video conferencing and internet. This solved the relentless problem of outsourcing and that too at considerable rates without any compromises in quality. Along with outsourcing, Friedman mentioned Insourcing and Supply Chaining as two more of other factors that contributed to globalization. He was fascinated by the fact that as soon as an item would be sold in one of the U.S.A’s supermarkets like Wal-Mart their production setup thousands of miles away would instantly be told to produce another one of those units in order to replace that one that has just been sold. He termed this as supply chaining at its best. Friedman believed that it was long before the programmers in India and China would become the designers as well and there would be no preference to living in Boston to that over living in Bangalore, India. He makes a number of suggestions in his work as to what should companies and individuals do in order to cope up with the increasing rate of globalization. Overall it may be said that Friedman clearly brings out the benefit of globalization. With all the goodness narrated by Friedman with respect to the advancements in information and

The Handmaids Tale Essay Example for Free

The Handmaids Tale Essay This book is a depiction of an anti-utopian future society, along with others like 1984 and Brave New World. It combines a futuristic reality, feminism and politics to create a very detailed novel considering many different aspects of Gilead. Offred is the complex lead character who draws us into the seemingly perfect but corrupt world of Gilead. Her pain is experienced by the readers who long to remember exactly what she has forgotten, and what she wants to find out. The experiences she goes through are strange, sometimes outright bizarre, and her world comes crashing down on us. The Handmaids Tale is very thought-provoking, the future of women and indeed the world lies in the actions of todays society, and Atwood uses her perceptions of the present world to support the background of her novel. Altogether The Handmaids Tale offers what all novels should: love, loss, action, comedy (ironic, but appropriate) vision, and plot. It plays with all emotions. Time In The handmaids tale (THT) the use of time is a key feature. Frequently throughout the book we experience time changes, from the present oppressive situation, and to the past of the handmaids, a happier time. In the gymnasium, time is used in reference. The narrator refers to a time gone, where the gymnasium was used for things other than sleeping. Dances would have been held there there was old sex in the room. There is reminiscence of the narrator; they call upon personal observations and experiences from the time gone by I remember that yearning. Later in the first chapter it becomes clear that the narrator, experienced the handmaids experience when she remembers how things were for her, when she slept in the army cots in the gymnasium as we tried to sleep in the army cots she uses words such as we had, then, were which all indicate its past tense. This usage of time goes on in the novel and is a way in which the writer can convey the feeling that the current situation has not always been that way, and that once this oppression didnt exist. As you read the opening chapter, the tone of the text comes across as sad, as reminiscent, as a longing for the times gone by, and a desire to return there. From reading the text, it becomes clear to me that this phantom narrator learned from her experience that she presumably had in Gilead, she learned the talent to be insatiable; she obviously didnt have it when she arrived how did we learn it, that talent for insatiability? The narrator of the text is left as something of a mystery to the reader. A name is never mentioned, but the text reads as if its somebody who is thinking back on their personal experience. This is somebody who has been there, experienced the oppression, had a yearning, this tells me that its being told by somebody who once was a Handmaid, I am sure they were a handmaid as they were being watched by Aunts and sleeping en mass in Gilead. If this person was a handmaid then surely they were a woman, I also think this because the language is quite emotional and emotive we yearned for the future.

Evolution of the Piano Essay Example for Free

Evolution of the Piano Essay One of the more popular musical instruments is the piano. In Youtube alone, a popular video sharing website, type ‘piano’ in the search box and result will show 574,000 uploaded videos. From the modern grand piano that people are grown accustomed to, it is interesting to find that piano began its journey from three things: hammer, string and soundboard. Dulcimer, an instrument originating in Iran after the birth of Christ, is said to be the inspiration for the creation of the piano (Concert Piano Pitch Services 2008). The dulcimer shares the same principles as the piano, with hammers striking/ beating strings placed in a flat soundboard (2008). However, in place of mechanical hammers, players used sticks (2008). Crusaders brought it to Europe during the Middle Ages (Marcie Wallis 2008). The term ‘dulcimer’ comes from the Latin ‘dulce melos’ which means â€Å"sweet sound† (Marcie Wallis 2008). An image of dulcimer is seen below. Image 1. Dulcimer (Marcie Wallis 2008) By the tenth century, pipe organs were the rage in churches (Goode 43). To play, a key is depressed, sending air into the pipe, thus producing a sound (Wright 47). The pipes are arranged in groups, with each group specializing in one tone (48). The pipes have a switch, called stops (48). When all stops are pulled, a forceful sound is produced. An image of a pipe organ is seen below. Image 2. Pipe Organ (Quimby Pipe Organs. com 2008) During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, another keyboard instrument became popular- the virginal (Goode 43). The virginal is a box with strings (43). A quill was used to pluck the strings. The term ‘virginal’ is said to be a compliment to the Queen. Young ladies used to play the virginal. The virginal was placed on a table as seen in the image below or held in the lap. Image 3. The Virginal (BBC 2008). In 1400, the world was introduced to the clavichord (Concert Piano Pitch Services 2008). It is one of the oldest keyboard instruments. It works according to a simple principle: The player depresses a key which in turns strikes a string with a metal blade called tangents, thereby producing sound (Marszalek and Panagakis 2006). It is a rectangular box with keyboards on the side and strings stretched across (Kelly 1998). Once a key is depressed, the player can also change the pitch to create a vibrato (1998). A clavichord player can make it â€Å"fretted†, striking strings in a succession manner of â€Å"unfretted† to produce one note (Piano Keyboard 2003). Widely used in Europe, clavichords were popular during the Renaissance period (1998). The Renaissance (1450-1600) was a period of rebirth, curiosity and individualism (Kamien 75). In this time, the focus was on human life (75). Thus, vocal music was given importance, with instrumental music taking a backseat (78). Given its small design, the clavichord was usually played in small audience (Get Piano Lessons. com 2008). Despite its limitations, the clavichord was a popular instrument especially in German households (2008). The oldest surviving clavichord is from the year 1543 (Piano Keyboard 2008). An image of the clavichord is seen below. Image 4. Clavichord (Get Piano Lessons. com 2008) Instrumental music saw its rise during the Baroque period (Wright 103). In this time, one instrument stood out- the harpsichord. The harpsichord originated in Northern Italy in 1400 but reached its peak during the Baroque period (Wright 48). It is the largest keyboard instrument. Some harpsichords had two keyboards (Marszalek and Panagakis 2004). Like the clavichord, the harpsichord is played by depressing a key, which in turn â€Å"forces a pick to pluck a string† (48). The plucking produces a sound (103). However, its level mechanism limits the harpsichord in controlling the forte (48). When a key is depressed, the sound and volume is still the same. Hence, harpsichords that were usually used had two keyboards to make sound gradations (48). This shortcoming exemplified the way Baroque music sounded: straightforward, uniformity continuity, no abrupt changes (103). It was during the Baroque period that Johann Sebastian Bach rose as the greatest composer, and harpsichordist of his time (Kamien 125). His Bradenburg Concerto no. 5, written around 1721, gained importance for being the first piece wherein a harpsichord had a solo role (104). Usually, in a concerto grosso (the term used for small group of soloists), the instruments used were string instruments. In the Bradenburg Concerto, the harpsichord is played in the final section. An image of the harpsichord is seen below. Image 5. Harpsichord (Get Piano Lesons. com 2008) Henry Purcell, another famous musician from the Baroque period, was chosen to be the organist of the Chapel Royal in London (UK Piano Pages 2008). By this time, the spinet had become popular. The spinet also came from the harpsichord family (Piano Keyboard 2003). The spinet was different from the harpsichord in size and its keyboard, which was placed on the long side of instrument (2003). An image of the spinet is seen below. Image 6. The Spinet (Piano Keyboard 2003) In 1709, the harpsichord was replaced with the pianoforte or piano for short (Get Piano Lessons. com 2008). Bartolomeo de Francesco Cristofori, an Italian harpsichord maker, was responsible for creating piano (2008). Instead of plucking, hammers hit the strings and a level mechanism allows the player to produce soft and loud sounds, thus the term ‘pianoforte which translates to ‘soft-loud’ (Wright 48). During the Classical Period, the piano became the key keyboard of most musicians (Kamien 150). In fact, major compositions of Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven used the piano (150). Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A Major, one of the best known concertos of all time, was completed in this period (186). Image 7. Cristofori Pianoforte (Piano Keyboard 2003) Gottfried Silbermann, a German was touted as the maker of the first successful pianoforte (Piano Keyboard 2003). In 1742, square pianos were made (2003). An image of a square piano is seen below. Image 8. Square Piano (Piano Keyboard 2003) In 1739, the first upright piano was made by Domenico dela Mela (UK Piano. org 2008). The first upright piano is much more similar to a grand piano, though (2008). In 1768, Johan Christian Bach gave the first ever piano recital (2008). By 1800, John Isaac Hawkins created the first true upright piano (2008). Piano’s popularity continued until from then on. When Jazz music became popular in the 1890s to 1915, ragtime piano was developed (Kamien 360). Ragtime was played by black pianists in saloons and dance halls (360). Among the famous ragtime player at that time was Scott Joplin. One of his more prominent pieces was â€Å"The Entertainer â€Å"(360). The 1960s saw the birth of the electronic keyboard (Surovec 2002). Electric organs were used followed by amplified pianos (2002). From the spinet, virginal, clavichord and harpsichord which pluck the string, the invention of piano led to hammering the strings to produce sounds. Levers are used to work the hammers and dampers. The present piano has an iron frame which attaches the metal strings. When key is depressed, the felt-tipped hammers strike the strings, causing it to vibrate and make the sound. A piano also has tuning pins for tightening the strings. It has an 88-note keyboard and two or three pedals (Kamien 25). Half a million videos of people playing the piano is more than enough evidence that the popularity of piano has not faded. In fact, it has become more popular than ever. Music is part of our everyday lives. Be it the chirping of the birds, the machinery hum or the sound of one’s sweet singing voice. And with the invention of musical instruments, music has never sounded so pleasant to listen to. Works Cited BBC. 2008. The Virginal Piano. 7 April 2008. http://bbc. co. uk Concert Piano Pitch Services.2008. Piano. 7 April 2008. http://concertpitchpiano. com Get Piano Lessons. com. 2008. How the Renaissance Time Period Shaped the History of the Piano. 7 April 2008. http://get-piano-lessons. com Goode, Ruth. The International Library of Piano Music. Vol. 14. New Jersey: University Society, Inc. 1967. Kamien, Roger. Music An Appreciation. 3rd ed. USA: McGraw-Hill, 1998. Kelly, Robert. Dec. 1998. Clavichord Technique and Performance Practice. 7 April 2008. http://geocities. com/Vienna/3624/clavichd. htm Marszalek, C. S. and B. Panagakis. 23 August 2004. Clavichord. 7 April 2008. http://twingroves. district96. k12. il. us Piano Keyboard. com 2008. Piano History. 7 April 2008. http:/pianokeyboard. com Quimby Pipe Organs. com. 2008. Pipe Organs. 7 April 2008. htp://quimbypipeorgans. com Surovec, Sabrina. 2002. Electronic Music . 7 April 2008. http://essortment. com UK Piano. org. 2008. Piano History. 7 April 2008. http://uk-piano. org Wallis, Marcie. 2008. Dulcimer. 7 April 2008. http://marciewallis. com Wright, Craig. Listening to Music. Minnesota: West Publishing Company, 1996.