"The"

[kinfai]

Please consider the following sentence.

Peter knows how to play (the) piano.

Is the "the" necessary?

Does the sentence have different meanings with and without "the"?

Thanks a lot.

[ponpoco256]

British people always say "play the piano". (EX) "Chopin often played the piano in private homes". Some Americans use "play piano" when talking about a case such that a pianist plays piano as his/her profession. (EX) "Lillian Harden played piano with Armstrong's bands".

ponpoco

[Temico]

Please consider the following sentence.

Peter knows how to play (the) piano.
Is the "the" necessary?

Does the sentence have different meanings with and without "the"?

Thanks a lot.

It's better to forget about American usage is such sentences and add the "the", otherwise you would have to write, "Peter knows how to play/blow pipe."

[kinfai]

Thanks very much to you all.

Peter has learnt how to play the piano for 10 years.
Peter has learnt how to play pianos for 10 years.

Do the above two sentences mean the same?

[ponpoco256]

Peter has learnt how to play the piano for 10 years.
Peter has learnt how to play pianos for 10 years.
Do the above two sentences mean the same?
A piano tuner might say "I have to play several pianos every day". But common people would never say "play pianos".

ponpoco