16th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-sixteenth the value of a whole note or one quarter of a quarter note.
Chord Inversions
Chords with alternate ordering of their tones where the root is placed either in the middle or at the top of the chord.
Chromatic Scale
A scale comprised of only semitones which uses all 12 notes.
Clef Changes
More than one clef used in a staff in a single piece or movement.
Crescendo and Diminuendo
Indications instructing the player to play gradually louder (crescendo) or softer (diminuendo).
Crossing Over Thumb
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.
Fermatas
Indications placed above or below notes instructing the player to hold those notes longer than their original notated length.
Fortissimo
An indication instructing the player to play very loudly; louder than forte.
Glissando
A continuous slide upwards or downwards from one note to another.
Imitation
A type of texture where one hand plays a series of notes that are mimicked in the other hand.
Ledger Lines
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.
Legato
A type of articulation indicating the player to play smoothly and seamlessly, with the notes slightly overlapped.
Octave Higher and Octave Lower
Symbols that indicate playing a note or range of notes either an octave higher or lower than notated.
Parallel Motion
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.
Pianissimo
An indication instructing the player to play very softly; softer than piano.
Ritardando
An Italian term meaning "delaying"; an indication instructing the player to decrease speed, often gradually.
Staccato
A type of articulation indicating the player to play short and light; notes not held for their full value.
Sustain Pedal
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.
Tempo Changes
More than one tempo indication used in a single piece or movement.
Tenuto
A type of articulation indicating to the player that a given note should be held for its full value or slightly more.
- Clap and Count
- Demonstrate
- Focus On Expressive Markings
- Hands Separate Practice
- Highlight Dynamic Contrasts
- Isolate Voices
- Map Out Hand Position Shifts
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice