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Christmas Piano Solos – Level 4

Fred Kern

Mona Rejino

Philip Keveren

A technique of playing 8th notes where the first 8th note is held longer than the second of a grouping of two; used often in jazz and blues.

Swing 8ths

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

Clef Changes

Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 6th of any quality.

Blocked 6ths

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

Extended Hand Positions

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

Sharp

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.

Shifting Hand Positions

A sign placed in front of a note that returns its pitch back to normal (returning to a white key).

Natural

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

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

Flat

An accompaniment pattern using broken chords that regularly extend beyond five finger patterns.

Extended Broken Chord Accompaniment

A type of accompaniment pattern that primarily uses broken chords in varying note configurations, with simple or slow-moving rhythms.

Broken Chord Accompaniment

A four note chord consisting of a triad and a note that is a seventh (of any quality) above the root.

Seventh Chords

Chords comprised of the root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, and minor 7th. Sometimes they are found in close position with only three notes.

Dominant Seventh Chords

Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 7th of any quality.

Blocked 7ths

Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 5th of any quality.

Blocked 5ths

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

8th Notes

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

Half Notes

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

Dotted Half Notes

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

Quarter Notes

Silence that equals the length of one quarter note.

Quarter Rests

Silence that equals the length of one 8th note.

8th Rests

Whole Notes

A symbol indicating that a section should be repeated.

Repeat Sign

Symbols that indicate different measures to play during repeated sections.

1st and 2nd Endings

Quarter notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 8th notes.

Dotted Quarter Notes

A type of articulation indicating the player to play short and light; notes not held for their full value.

Staccato

A type of texture where one or both hands play more than one voice at a time; usually briefly and with simple rhythms.

Simple Two Voices in One Hand

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

Mezzo Forte

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

Jingle-Bell Rock

Fred Kern, Mona Rejino, Philip Keveren

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