Kevin Olson

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

Broken Chords

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

Melody Between Hands

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

16th Notes

A series of any amount or quality of blocked 6th intervals that are played in one hand, and where both notes move up or down in parallel motion.

Parallel 6ths

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.

Sustain Pedal

More than key signature used in a single piece or movement.

Key Signature Changes

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

Accidentals

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

Natural

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

Flat

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

Sharp

Intervals and chords played in one hand that require significant stretching between at least two notes and where the outer intervals reach further than an octave.

Large Hand Stretches

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

Extended Hand Positions

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

Dotted 8th Notes

More than one time signature used in a single piece or movement.

Multiple Time Signatures

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

Clef Changes

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

Hand Crossing

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

Dotted Quarter Notes

Silence that equals the length of one 16th note.

16th Rest

Silence that equals the length of one whole note or an entire measure in 4/4 or 3/4.

Whole Rests

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

8th Notes

Quarter rests whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 8th notes, or one and a half beats.

Dotted Quarter Rest

Silence that equals the length of one 8th note.

8th Rests

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

Dotted Half Notes

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

Fermatas

Symbols that indicate playing a note or range of notes one octave higher than notated.

Octave Higher

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

Ties

A type of accompaniment pattern that primarily uses repeating blocked 5ths in a single position with simple or slow-moving rhythms.

Blocked 5ths Accompaniment

Chord tones played one note at a time that are not part of an accompaniment pattern and use predominantly 16th notes.

16th Note Broken Chords

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

An accompaniment pattern that mainly uses the root, 5th, and octave, in varying order, and usually with steady rhythms. 

Broken Root-5th-Octave Accompaniment

A type of texture where the left hand plays the melody and the right hand plays the accompaniment for an extended period of time.

Left Hand Melody

An indication instructing the player to play very softly; softer than piano.

Pianissimo

An indication instructing the player to play softly.

Piano

A sign that tells the player to play gradually softer.

Diminuendo

Mezzo Forte

A sign that tells the player to play gradually louder.

Crescendo

An indication instructing the player to play loudly.

Forte

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

Mezzo Piano

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

Legato

A type of articulation indicating to the player that a given note should be held for its full value or slightly more.

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Kevin Olson

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