A pianola is a piano that plays by itself. Inside it there is a machine. A long roll of paper, cut with many tiny holes, turns slowly. The holes tell the machine which keys to press, so the piano makes music even when nobody's hands are on it. People also call this a player piano. About a hundred years ago it felt like a wonder in the sitting room, before records and radio were cheap. You still see old ones in museums, and some people keep them as a hobby. The word itself feels a little old now; many speakers just say player piano. Though actually, the name began as a brand: a pianola was a player piano you could also play with your own hands. Later people used pianola for the whole kind of instrument.

自動鋼琴、紙捲鋼琴