How Much Do You Know About the Piano?

​Most of us that are piano students spend so much time learning to play the piano and how to understand music so it makes sense that we seldom stop to think about the piano itself, as an instrument.

Pianos are amazing instruments! They are capable of playing every clef used in most modern music; treble, alto and bass, and they can represent almost every instrument in a symphony orchestra. They can be played loudly or softly, and can be used for accompanying or in a starring role as a solo instrument.

So, How Much Do You Know About the Piano?

Let’s test your knowledge! 

1. How many working parts are in the actual piano itself?
   1. 10,000
   2. 5000
   3. 7500
2. How many keys are on a full size piano?
   1. 50
   2. 88
   3. 75
3. How many white keys are on a full size piano?
   1. 52
   2. 25
   3. 47
4. How many black keys are on a full size piano?
   1. 15
   2. 25
   3. 36
5. The Piano is how many years old? (approximately)
   1. 1500
   2. 300
   3. 1000
6. How many strings are inside of a full size piano?
   1. 230
   2. 75
   3. 365
7. What instrument family is the piano included in? **
   1. Strings
   2. Woodwinds
   3. Percussion
8. What is the lowest note on a piano?
   1. G
   2. A
   3. D
9. What is the highest note on a piano?
   1. F
   2. C
   3. B
10. What kinds of notes do the Black Keys play?
    1. Sharps and Flats
    2. Quarter Notes
    3. Fast Notes
11. The full original name for the piano is?
    1. Pianolatte
    2. Pianoforte
    3. Pianissimo
12. What do you call the part in the piano that strikes the strings to make the notes sound?
    1. Nail
    2. Hammer
    3. Saw
13. On average, how many times per year should a piano be tuned?
    1. 2
    2. 8
    3. 4
14. What is the first note that most people learn to play on the piano?
    1. G
    2. F#
    3. Middle C
15. The Piano is known as the what, of instruments?
    1. Spunky one
    2. King
    3. Concertmaster

Answers:

1. A 
2. B
3. A
4. C
5. B
6. A
7. C
8. B
9. B
10. A
11. B
12. B
13. A
14. C
15. B

**Even though there are strings inside of a piano, it is still considered a percussion instrument, because it requires the movement of the hammers striking the strings, to make sound.**

How Did You Do?
​
Now you know all kinds of neat facts about the piano! It truly is a royal instrument with the stature of a King in the instrument family.

Having knowledge of the instrument itself, helps us to gain more respect for the piano because of the many aspects involved in creating such a magnificent creature.
​
Think about this when you sit down to play the next time…you might just hear a different sound in your playing as your appreciation for the piano grows.

Stay tuned to LessonsOnTheWeb to learn much more!