8th Note Parallel 3rds
A series of any amount or quality of blocked 3rd intervals that are played in one hand and move up or down in primarily 8th note rhythms.
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.
Blocked 5ths Accompaniment
A type of accompaniment pattern that primarily uses repeating blocked 5ths in a single position with simple or slow-moving rhythms.
Clef Changes
More than one clef used in a staff in a single piece or movement.
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.
Grace Notes
Ornamentations that are notated in a smaller size than normal notes and played slightly before them.
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.
Octave Higher and Octave Lower
Symbols that indicate playing a note or range of notes either an octave higher or lower than notated.
Parallel 4ths
A series of any amount or quality of blocked 4th intervals that are played in one hand, and where both notes move up or down in parallel motion.
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.
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.
Two Octaves Higher and Lower
Symbols that indicate playing a note or range of notes either two octaves higher or lower than notated.
- Demonstrate