Elements I

Michael Scott

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

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

Chord tones played together that are not part of an accompaniment pattern.

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.

8th notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 16th notes.

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

A type texture that occurs when the contour, distance, and speed of the notes in one hand matches that of the other hand as they play together.

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

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.

Also called the damper pedal, it is the rightmost pedal on the piano and used to sustain notes by moving the dampers away from the strings.

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