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 3rds
Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 3rd of any quality.
Blocked Chord Accompaniment
A type of accompaniment pattern that primarily uses root-position major and minor triads with simple or slow-moving rhythms.
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.
Imitation
A type of texture where one hand plays a series of notes that are mimicked in the other hand.
Staccato
A type of articulation indicating the player to play short and light; notes not held for their full value.
Ties
Symbols indicating that two notes are to be played as one with the value equal to their sum.
Melody Between Hands
A simple melody line shared by both the right hand and the left hand.
- Choose Good Fingerings
- Demonstrate
- Hands Separate Practice
- Highlight the Contrast in Articulation
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice
- Work on Creating a Good Tone
- Work on Expressive Phrasing
- Work on Getting the Correct Style