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.

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

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.

An accompaniment that uses a variety of blocked intervals with a relatively equal rate of occurrence. 

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.

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

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

Symbols that indicate playing a note or range of notes either an octave higher or lower than notated.

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.

Temporary displacement of established meter by the stressing of a weak beat.

The three fundamental chords used in educational repertoire; the I, IV, V7 chords.