The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument whose sound comes from a finger moving a key, which moves a hammer, which strikes a string, which makes a sound that is part of a musical composition. The faster the key is depressed, the louder will be the sound, therefore the piano is a speed tool. A tennis racquet, a golf club and a piano key are all levers that operate on the same mechanical principle, with the speed of the racquet or club gaining distance, while the speed of the piano key gains volume. A tone changes color through the speed of its key descent.
Sound is produced 3/8 of an inch down the distance of the key displacement. At this point, when the key is depressed very slowly, a bump will be felt. This is called the point of sound, for it is from this spot that the action resulting in sound begins, for that bump is a signal that the hammer is being activated and will be on its way before the finger reaches the keybed. When the key descends very slowly beyond this point and reaches the bottom of the key, there will be no sound, for the bottom of the key is not the activator. When the key goes down slowly, a small sound results, and with each gradation in the increase of speed, there is an increase in the amount of sound. The player should always aim for the point of sound and follow through to the bottom and just rest there without pushing.

The piano consists of two distinct portions, 1) the instrument, and 2) the set of machines provided to excite it into sound. The sounding-board with its strings forms the instrument and the key with all its components forms the exciting tool. This only serves to transmit speed to the string. Sound can only be excited by giving motion to the key, nothing else will be able to produce tone. The application of energy must be so timed during key-descent, as to culminate coincidently with the moment that tone begins to appear. Hitting or striking the key is as fallacious as pressing the key upon its bed. We must realize the key's 1) weight and 2) resistance through the fingertip, and must overcome this resistance so as to aim the hammer-end of the key against the string.