Abstract: In a piano which is enabled to provide performance using electronic sound source as well as normal piano play, the proposed piano is such a piano where there is no difference of balance between the normal piano play and the play using electronic sound source. When key is moved in an electronic sound source mode, CPU detects a number n of the key (S110), detects a time lag .DELTA. T between the timings at which blockage is caused between light emitting elements and light receiving elements of both key sensors (S120), and calculates a velocity V according to the time lag .DELTA. T (S130). Then, performance data is prepared according to these key depression information, at the performance data preparation routine (S140), and a delay time Td corresponding to the velocity V is determined by using a delay time determination table (S150). Subsequently, it is determined whether the delay time Td has elapsed (S160). When it has elapsed, the performance data is outputted to the electronic sound source (S170).

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for an automatic piano player apparatus is provided. The sensor arrangement includes a plurality of switches which are operatively associated with a rotatable shutter in the hammer system of the automatic piano player. When the hammer system is operated to strike a string of the piano, the cooperation between the rotatable shutter and the switches produces output information which includes the string-striking intensity information and the state of condition information of the damper that is normally in contact with the piano string. With this information, the various play techniques such as staccato, legato, continuous key-striking and the like may be reproduced with great fidelity by the automatic piano player apparatus.