16th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-sixteenth the value of a whole note or one quarter of a quarter note.
Blocked Chords
Chord tones played together 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.
Dotted 8th Notes
8th notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 16th notes.
Grace Notes
Ornamentations that are notated in a smaller size than normal notes and played slightly before them.
Ledger Lines
Additional lines added above or below the staff in order to place very high or very low notes that wouldn't normally fit on the staff.
Legato
A type of articulation indicating the player to play smoothly and seamlessly, with the notes slightly overlapped.
Staccato
A type of articulation indicating the player to play short and light; notes not held for their full value.
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.
- Highlight Dynamic Contrasts
- Play Small Segments
- Play Without the Ornaments
- Slow Practice