16th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-sixteenth the value of a whole note or one quarter of a quarter note.
8th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-eighth the value of a whole note or half the value of a quarter note.
Accents
Indications instructing the player to put special emphasis on notes.
Accidentals
Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.
Crescendo and Diminuendo
Indications instructing the player to play gradually louder (crescendo) or softer (diminuendo).
Dotted 8th Notes
8th notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 16th notes.
Mezzo Forte
A simple melody line shared by both the right hand and the left hand.
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.
Sforzando
Indications instructing the player to play with sudden emphasis.
Shifting Hand Positions
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.
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.
Tremolo
A trembling effect that is achieved by playing rapidly repeating notes in succession.
Two Note Slurs
Two notes connected together smoothly where the second note is played softer and lighter.
Whole Rests
Silence that equals the length of one whole note or an entire measure in 4/4 or 3/4.
- Demonstrate
- Focus On Expressive Markings
- Focus on the Left Hand Accompaniment Patterns
- Hands Separate Practice
- Help Student Achieve Sensitive and Musical Playing
- Map Out Hand Position Shifts
- Play Small Segments
- Work on Dropping Into the Keys With Full Arm Weight