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.

Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 2nd of any quality.

Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 3rd of any quality.

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

A type of accompaniment pattern where only one note is played at a time, usually within a single five finger scale and with simple rhythms.

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 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.

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

A simple five-finger hand position where the thumbs rest on adjacent notes.

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

Additional lines added above or below the staff in order to place very high or very low notes that wouldn't normally fit on the staff.