Very Easy Little Peppers

Elissa Milne

Composed in eight equal parts so that the student can enjoy arranging the piece themselves. The parts can be played in any order and they can even be played simultaneously, making the piece work as either solo or piano ensemble.

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.

Parallel Motion

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

Five Finger Scales

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

An indication instructing the player to play softly.

Piano

Two notes connected together smoothly where the second note is played softer and lighter.

Two Note Slurs

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

Extended Hand Positions

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

Staccato

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

Quarter Notes

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

Half Notes

Silence that equals the length of one quarter note.

Quarter Rests

Silence that equals the length of one half note.

Half Rests

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

Mezzo Piano

A series of any amount or quality of blocked 3rd intervals that are played in one hand, and where both notes move up or down in parallel motion.

Parallel 3rds

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

A type of texture where one hand plays a series of notes that are mimicked in the other hand.

Imitation

An indication instructing the player to play loudly.

Forte

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

Mezzo Forte

Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of an octave of any quality.

Melodic Octaves

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

Dotted Quarter Notes

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

8th Notes

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

Blocked 3rds

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

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

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 2nd of any quality.

Blocked 2nds

Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 4th of any quality.

Blocked 4ths

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

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

An indication instructing the player to play very loudly; louder than forte.

Fortissimo

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.

Peas in a Pod

Elissa Milne

Details