16th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-sixteenth the value of a whole note or one quarter of a quarter note.
Broken Chords
Chord tones played one note at a time that are not part of an accompaniment pattern.
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.
Contrary Motion
A type of texture where the contour of the notes in one hand is the exact opposite to that of the other hand as they play simultaneously.
Dominant Seventh Chords
Four-note chords comprised of the root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, and minor 7th.
First Inversion Chords
Chords with an alternate ordering of their tones where the root is placed on the top and the 3rd and 5th below.
Imitation
A type of texture where one hand plays a series of notes that are mimicked in the other hand.
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.
Melody Between Hands
A simple melody line shared by both the right hand and the left hand.
- Block the Broken Chords
- Choose Good Fingerings
- Hands Separate Practice
- Help Student Achieve Sensitive and Musical Playing
- Make Rhythmic Exercises Using Difficult Rhythms
- Map Out Hand Position Shifts
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice
- Study the Contour of the Melody
- Work on a Smooth Legato Touch
- Work on Expressive Phrasing