1st and 2nd Endings
Symbols that indicate different measures to play during repeated sections.
8th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-eighth the value of a whole note or half the value of a quarter note.
Accidentals
Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.
Anacrusis
Sometimes called upbeats or pickup notes; a note or series of notes that precede and give stress to the first downbeat of a piece.
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.
D.S. al Coda
An indication instructing the player to go back to the "S" symbol, then jump to the coda when "al coda" or "to coda" is reached.
Dotted Quarter Notes
Quarter notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 8th notes.
Hand Crossing
A technique that involves one hand crossing over or under the other.
Imitation
A type of texture where one hand plays a series of notes that are mimicked in the other hand.
Intermediate Single Note Accompaniment
A type of accompaniment pattern where only one note is played at a time but with large intervals, many hand positions, and complex rhythms.
Legato
A type of articulation indicating the player to play smoothly and seamlessly, with the notes slightly overlapped.
Ritardando
An Italian term meaning "delaying"; an indication instructing the player to decrease speed, often gradually.
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.
- Choose Good Fingerings
- Focus On Expressive Markings
- Highlight Dynamic Contrasts
- Map Out Hand Position Shifts
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice