The Big Digital Pre-Reading Christmas Book

Carol Matz

A hand position where either the right-hand or left-thumbs play middle C or where both thumbs share middle C.

Simple intervals that introduce students to 2nds and use two adjacent white keys.

Simple intervals that introduce students to 3rds and use two white keys with one white key in between; skipping over one white key.

A type of notation that doesn't use staff lines; sometimes called "floating notes".

A simple melody line shared by both the right hand and the left hand.

A type of primary-level notation where the pitch names are placed inside the noteheads; often used in combination with off-staff notation.

A technique that requires the player to pick up and move their hand to a new position; usually from a five finger scale to another.

A simple scale that contains the first five notes of the D Minor scale.

Vertical lines on the staff that separate notated music into measures.

Sometimes called upbeats or pickup notes; a note or series of notes that precede and give stress to the first downbeat of a piece.

An indication instructing the player to play moderately soft; between mezzo forte and piano.

Notes whose lengths are equal to one-fourth the value of a whole note.

Half notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three quarter notes.

Notes whose lengths are equal to one half the value of a whole note.

Silence that equals the length of one quarter note.

Symbols indicating that two notes are to be played as one with the value equal to their sum.