Accidentals
Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.
Blocked 6ths
Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 6th of any quality.
D.S. al Coda
An indication instructing the player to go back to the "S" symbol, then jump to the coda when "al coda" or "to coda" is reached.
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.
Syncopation
Temporary displacement of established meter by the stressing of a weak beat.
Ties
Symbols indicating that two notes are to be played as one with the value equal to their sum.
Tremolo
A trembling effect that is achieved by playing rapidly repeating notes in succession.
- Hands Separate Practice
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice