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.
8th Rests
Silence that equals the length of one 8th note.
Accidentals
Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.
Broken Chord Accompaniment
A type of accompaniment pattern that primarily uses broken chords in varying note configurations, with simple or slow-moving rhythms.
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.
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.
Crossing Thumb Under
The physical motion of crossing the thumb under fingers 2, 3, 4, or 5; used when playing scalar passages or outside of five finger scales.
Diminished Seventh Chords
Four-note chords comprised of the root, minor 3rd, diminished 5th, and diminished 7th; typically have a dominant function.
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.
Left Hand Melody
A type of texture where the left hand plays the melody and the right hand plays the accompaniment for an extended period of time.
Melodic 2nds
Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 2nd of any quality.
Repeat Sign
A symbol indicating that a section should be repeated.
Triplets
Notes whose values are determined by a subdivision into three-note groupings instead of two or four.
- Block the Broken Chords
- Choose Good Fingerings
- Clap and Count
- Demonstrate
- Focus on the Left Hand Accompaniment Patterns
- Hands Separate Practice
- Make Rhythmic Exercises Using Difficult Rhythms
- Map Out Hand Position Shifts
- Play Similar Passages Together
- Play Small Segments
- Practice Scalar Passages in Rhythms
- Slow Practice
- Study the Contour of the Melody
- Work on a Smooth Legato Touch
- Work on Expressive Phrasing