PIANO RESEARCH PROJECT

In addition to the required topics, select three optional topics from the list below for your
research. We will work on one topic at a time, using that as the basis of your first draft. The
information you find on your five topics will then be compiled into one paper. If you find any
pictures you wish to use during your research, you can include them with your paper.

Required topics to cover:

• General Information and History
◦ Full name? (meaning of name)
◦ How many keys? (color/arrangement)
◦ Inventor? (date?)
◦ etc.
• How does it work?
◦ Different parts of the piano
◦ how does one play the piano?
◦ how is sound actually produced?

Optional topics to choose from:

• Pedals
◦ What are the three main pedals called?
◦ What happens when you press each one?
◦ Where are the pedals located?
• Piano types and relatives
◦ Different kinds/styles of piano
◦ Other instruments in the piano family
◦ etc.
• Famous piano players and piano usage in popular music
◦ Two or more famous piano players and a little bit about them
◦ Two or more popular (rock, pop, country, etc.) songs that feature the piano (plus
band/singer name, etc.)
• Famous classical piano music and composers
◦ Two or more famous songs for piano
◦ When they were written
◦ Their composers and a short blurb about each
• Pianos today
◦ Where might you see a piano?
◦ How about hear one?
◦ Is it a popular instrument to learn?
◦ Why do you think people should learn to play the piano?
• Taking care of a piano
◦ What does a piano need during its lifetime?
◦ How can you keep a piano happy and healthy?
Name: _____________________________ Date: ___________________

GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY OF THE PIANO

Find answers to the questions below. On a separate sheet of paper piece your answers
together into a couple of paragraphs or more.

1. What is the full name of the piano?

2. What language is that? What does it mean?

3. How many keys does a piano have?

4. How are these keys arranged on the piano? What does it look like? Is there a pattern?

5. Who invented the piano? When was the first piano built?

6. Did you come across anything else interesting in your research about the general
information and history of the piano?
Name: _____________________________ Date: ___________________

HOW DOES A PIANO WORK?

Find answers to the questions below. On a separate sheet of paper piece your answers
together into a couple of paragraphs or more.

1. How does a person play the piano?

2. How is sound actually produced?

3. What are some important parts of the piano? What do they do?

4. Did you come across anything else interesting in your research about how the piano
works?
Name: _____________________________ Date: ___________________

THE PEDALS OF THE PIANO

Find answers to the questions below. On a separate sheet of paper piece your answers
together into a couple of paragraphs or more.

1. What are the three main pedals called?

2. What happens when you press each one? (What do they do?)

3. Where are the pedals located?

4. Did you come across anything else interesting in your research about the pedals?
Name: _____________________________ Date: ___________________

PIANO TYPES AND RELATIVES

Find answers to the questions below. On a separate sheet of paper piece your answers
together into a couple of paragraphs or more.

1. What are some different kinds/styles of piano?

2. What are some other instruments in the piano family?

3. Did you come across anything else interesting in your research about the styles and
relatives of the piano?
Name: _____________________________ Date: ___________________

FAMOUS PIANO PLAYERS AND PIANO USAGE IN POPULAR MUSIC

Find answers to the questions below. On a separate sheet of paper piece your answers
together into a couple of paragraphs or more.

1. Name two or more famous piano players and tell a little bit about them.

2. Name two or more popular (rock, pop, country, etc.) songs that feature the piano.
Provide the name of the band/performer and any other information you think is
important.

3. Did you come across anything else interesting in your research about this topic?
Name: _____________________________ Date: ___________________

FAMOUS CLA SSICAL PIANO MUSIC AND COMPOSERS

Find answers to the questions below. On a separate sheet of paper piece your answers
together into a couple of paragraphs or more.

1. Name two or more famous songs written for the piano.

2. When were they written?

3. Name their composers and a provide a short blurb about each person.

4. Did you come across anything else interesting in your research about classical piano
music?
Name: _____________________________ Date: ___________________

PIANOS TODAY

Find answers to the questions below. On a separate sheet of paper piece your answers
together into a couple of paragraphs or more.

1. Where might you see a piano?

2. How about hear one?

3. Is it a popular instrument to learn?

4. Why do you think people should learn to play the piano?

5. Did you learn anything else interesting in your research about the piano in today's
society?
Name: _____________________________ Date: ___________________

TAKING CARE OF A PIANO

Find answers to the questions below. On a separate sheet of paper piece your answers
together into a couple of paragraphs or more.

1. What does a piano need multiple times during its lifetime?

2. How can you keep a piano happy and healthy?

3. Did you learn anything else interesting in your research about how to take care of a
piano?
 GRADING RUBRIC

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Organization Information is very Information is Information is The information
organized with organized with organized, but appears to be
well-constructed well-constructed paragraphs are not disorganized.
paragraphs and paragraphs. well-constructed.
topic ordering.
Amount of All topics are All topics are All topics are One or more
Information addressed and all addressed and addressed, and topics were not
questions most questions most questions addressed.
answered with at answered with at answered with 1
least 2 paragraphs least 2 paragraphs paragraph about
about each. about each. each.

Quality of Information clearly Information clearly Information clearly Information has

Information relates to the main relates to the main relates to the main little or nothing to
topic. It includes topic. It provides 1- topic. No details do with the main
several supporting 2 supporting details and/or examples topic.
details and/or and/or examples. are given.
examples.
Mechanics No grammatical, Almost no A few grammatical Many
spelling or grammatical, spelling, or grammatical,
punctuation errors. spelling or punctuation errors. spelling, or
punctuation errors punctuation errors.

First Draft Detailed draft is Draft includes all Draft includes most Draft is missing
neatly presented required required required
and includes all information and is information and is information and is
required legible. legible. difficult to read.
information.

Score: ______ / 20