Final answer:
True, the piano is classified as a percussion instrument due to the mechanism of hammers striking strings to produce sound. Instrument classification relies on the method of sound production, and the size of the instrument influences the pitch of the sounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that the piano is technically classified as a percussion instrument. Even though the piano produces sound through vibrating strings, it is the action of hammers striking the strings when the keys are pressed that categorizes it as a percussion instrument. This classification is based on how the sound is produced, which is a common method for determining the family to which a musical instrument belongs. For example, a guitar would be classified as a string instrument because its sound is produced by the player plucking or strumming the strings directly.
The size of an instrument affects the pitch of the sounds it produces. Smaller instruments tend to create high-pitched sounds with shorter wavelengths. In contrast, larger instruments tend to produce deeper sounds with longer wavelengths. Therefore, the characteristics of the sound waves relate directly to the size of an instrument.
When a piano tuner tunes a piano, they may listen for beats between a tuning fork and a piano string, adjusting the piano's strings to match the tuner's frequency. Each musical instrument, including the piano, has a unique timbre, which explains why a violin playing middle C sounds different from a piano playing the same note.