Premier Piano Course, Lesson 3

Dennis Alexander

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

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

A type of accompaniment pattern that primarily uses major and minor triads with simple or slow-moving rhythms.

Indications instructing the player to play gradually louder (crescendo) or softer (diminuendo).

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.

Using a different finger on the same notes or switching the finger while holding a note.

A type of accompaniment pattern where only one note is played at a time but with large intervals, many hand positions, and complex rhythms.

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.

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

Commonly used diatonic scales with the following sequence of intervals: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.

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.

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

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.