prepared piano

American  

noun

1. a grand piano that has been altered for some modern compositions by having various objects attached to its strings to change the sound and pitch, and performance on which typically involves playing the keys, plucking the strings, slapping the body of the instrument, and slamming the keyboard lid.

---

prepared piano British  

noun

1. a piano in which some strings have been damped by having objects placed between them or tuned differently from the rest for specific tonal effect. This process was pioneered by John Cage

---

Etymology

Origin of prepared piano

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Then, after a short silence, the music resumed, but now with the addition of Mr. Muhly on prepared piano, lending ineffable poignancy to strains of unsentimental emotionalism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 27, 2025

In “Scarlatti: Cage: Sonatas,” another Sony recording, he bracingly alternated Domenico Scarlatti’s single-movement Baroque sonatas with pieces from John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano.

From New York Times • Nov. 15, 2020

It’s called a prepared piano, a concept created by John Cage in the late 1930s.

From The Verge • Nov. 8, 2019

“John Cage was here as an accompanist for the dance program, 1938-42. That was the period when he worked on his prepared piano pieces and first collaborated with Merce Cunningham.”

From Seattle Times • Apr. 4, 2019

He is the first to my knowledge to play Cage's "Sonatas and Interludes" for prepared piano from memory.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2018