Premier Piano Course, Lesson 1B

Dennis Alexander

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

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

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

Simple five-note scales whose notes fit within a comfortable hand shape; applied when more than one such scale appears in a piece.

An indication instructing the player to play loudly.

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

A technique that involves one hand crossing over or under the other.

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

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

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

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

A sign placed in front of a note that raises its pitch by a half step.

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.

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