What is a Fortepiano?
5:48 minutes

Learn how the fortepianos used by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven differ from modern pianos, and hear musical examples showing how these Classical-era composers used the Viennese fortepiano’s unique qualities in their music.

Mozart and Beethoven’s Pianos
9:59 minutes

Pianos in Mozart and Beethoven’s era evolved quickly — and those changes shaped what composers wrote and how performers played. This video compares multiple fortepianos so you can hear and see their impact on Classical-era music.

Fortepiano vs. Modern Piano
9:51 minutes

A fortepiano vs. modern piano comparison that demonstrates the vast differences between sound creation, sound qualities, and tuning to help inform your interpretations on the modern piano.

Classical-era Performance Practices
9:21 minutes

Explore three Classical-era performance practices — rhythmic flexibility, pedaling, and improvisation — to see how these concepts can enrich your interpretations of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Historical Tuning
7:38 minutes

Composers like Bach and Beethoven didn’t tune their keyboard instruments in today's equal temperament. They used unequal temperaments, giving subtle characteristics to each key that are lost in equal temperament.