Play the piano and play on the piano

[hawklutz]

Recently I have come across the following paragraphs in "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte:

‘I dare say you are clever, though,’ continued Bessie, by
way of solace. ‘What can you do? Can you play on the piano?

It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied
with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will
make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to
a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt
against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides
political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which
people earth. Women are supposed to be very calm generally:
but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for
their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their
brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute
a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is
narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to
say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings
and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and
embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or
laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than
custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.

Why not play the piano? Does "on" change the meaning? Would you please point out the difference to me!

 

[rama511]

Hello . Dear, actually I'm not sure about my answer but I feel free to put it here and if it wrong ,could I ask somebody correct it for me please , ;-)

I think that play on the piano , mean you are playing or gaming

but the play the piano you are operation or start it

as I said I'm not quite sure about that , but I want to help

regards from KSA .

 

[hawklutz]

Thanks for trying to be helpful. But, in my opinion, your explanation might be a bit incorrect Let's wait for somebody else to give us a helping hand.
A little update:
I managed to find the following in the dictionary:

Jean accompanied her on the piano.

(Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)

On the Internet you can also find the phrases, which, when generalized, would look like this:
to play smth(some piece of music) on the piano.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello . Dear, actually I'm not sure about my answer but I feel free to put it here and if it wrong ,could I ask somebody correct it for me please , ;-)

I think that play on the piano , mean you are playing or gaming

but the play the piano you are operation or start it

as I said I'm not quite sure about that , but I want to help

regards from KSA .

Your idea is correct, but your English needs some work.

 

[hawklutz]

Thank you all. So, as far as I understood it, play the piano is used far more often and the usage of preposition "on" preceding "the piano" is marginalized?

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you all. So, as far as I understood it, play the piano is used far more often and the usage of preposition "on" preceding "the piano" is marginalized?

"To play the piano" is much more common when you are talking about someone who actually makes music with that particular instrument.

In the passive voice, however, "This piece of music is played on the piano", "It was written to be played on the piano", and (as you quoted) "She was accompanied on the piano by a good friend".

 

[rama511]

Your idea is correct, but your English needs some work.

I am cheerful to hear that about my idea , but what should I do about my English , by the way that is the first post in English I put it.

 

[BobK]

Bear in mind that the text is old. 'Playing on an instrument' was a common expression then. Today, we say 'playing the piano'; in some parts of the world they even say 'playing piano' ;-) (That shortened form is starting to be heard in the UK, starting with popular music reports, I think: 'Paul used to play bass guitar with the Beatles'.) Language changes.

b