Jennifer and Mike Watts

Notes whose lengths are equal to one-eighth the value of a whole note or half the value of a quarter note.

8th Notes

Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.

Accidentals

An Italian term meaning "in time"; an indication instructing the player to return to the original tempo after a deviation.

A Tempo

An accompaniment that uses a variety of blocked intervals with a relatively equal rate of occurrence. 

Blocked Intervals Accompaniment

Chord tones played one note at a time that are not part of an accompaniment pattern.

Broken Chords

More than one clef used in a staff in a single piece or movement.

Clef Changes

Indications instructing the player to play gradually louder (crescendo) or softer (diminuendo).

Crescendo and Diminuendo

The physical motion of crossing fingers 2, 3, 4, or 5 over the thumb; used when playing scalar passages or outside of five finger scales.

Crossing Over Thumb

The physical motion of crossing the thumb under fingers 2, 3, 4, or 5; used when playing scalar passages or outside of five finger scales.

Crossing Thumb Under

Hand positions that require stretching beyond a five finger scale; usually to play intervals that are 6ths or greater.

Extended Hand Positions

Indications placed above or below notes instructing the player to hold those notes longer than their original notated length.

Fermatas

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

Half Notes

A type of texture where one or both hands play more than one voice at a time with large intervals, many hand positions, and complex rhythms.

Intermediate Two Voices in One Hand

A technique that involves quickly shifting hands beyond an octave.

Leaps Greater Than an Octave

A type of articulation indicating the player to play smoothly and seamlessly, with the notes slightly overlapped.

Legato

Symbols that indicate playing a note or range of notes either an octave higher or lower than notated.

Octave Higher or Octave Lower

A series of any amount or quality of blocked 10th intervals that are played in both hands simultaneously, and where both notes move up or down in parallel motion.

Parallel 10ths Between Hands

A series of any amount or quality of blocked 3rd intervals that are played in one hand, and where both notes move up or down in parallel motion.

Parallel 3rds

A series of any amount or quality of blocked 4th intervals that are played in one hand, and where both notes move up or down in parallel motion.

Parallel 4ths

A series of any amount or quality of blocked 5th intervals that are played in one hand, and where both notes move up or down in parallel motion.

Parallel 5ths

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

Quarter Notes

An Italian term meaning "delaying"; an indication instructing the player to decrease speed, often gradually.

Ritardando

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.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Jennifer and Mike Watts

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