8th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-eighth the value of a whole note or half the value of a quarter note.
Blocked Chords
Chord tones played together that are not part of an accompaniment pattern.
Clef Changes
More than one clef used in a staff in a single piece or movement.
Hand Crossing
A technique that involves one hand crossing over or under the other.
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.
Sforzando
Indications instructing the player to play with sudden emphasis.
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.
Syncopation
Temporary displacement of established meter by the stressing of a weak beat.
- Choose Good Fingerings
- Clap and Count
- Demonstrate
- Hands Separate Practice
- Map Out Hand Position Shifts
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice