16th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-sixteenth the value of a whole note or one quarter of a quarter note.
8th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-eighth the value of a whole note or half the value of a quarter note.
A Tempo
An Italian term meaning "in time"; an indication instructing the player to return to the original tempo after a deviation.
Accelerando
An Italian term meaning "hastening"; an indication instructing the player to increase the speed, often gradually.
Accents
Indications instructing the player to put special emphasis on notes.
Accidentals
Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.
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).
Fermatas
Indications placed above or below notes instructing the player to hold those notes longer than their original notated length.
Fortissimo
An indication instructing the player to play very loudly; louder than forte.
Intermediate Two Voices in One Hand
A type of texture where one or both hands play more than one voice at a time 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.
Octave Higher and Octave Lower
Symbols that indicate playing a note or range of notes either an octave higher or lower than notated.
Piano
An indication instructing the player to play softly.
Quarter Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-fourth the value of a whole note.
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.
Triplets
Notes whose values are determined by a subdivision into three-note groupings instead of two or four.
Cross-Staff Beams
Beams that connect notes in the left hand and right hand; used when a single voice is played between both hands.
- Block the Broken Chords
- Demonstrate
- Help Student Achieve Sensitive and Musical Playing
- Highlight Dynamic Contrasts
- Isolate Voices
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice