Accidentals
Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.
Blocked 5ths Accompaniment
A type of accompaniment pattern that primarily uses repeating blocked 5ths in a single position with simple or slow-moving rhythms.
Compound Time Signature
A time signature where the fundamental beat is subdivided in groupings of three instead of two.
Crescendo and Diminuendo
Indications instructing the player to play gradually louder (crescendo) or softer (diminuendo).
Dotted Quarter Notes
Quarter notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 8th notes.
Parallel 3rds
A series of any amount or quality of blocked 3rd intervals that are played in one hand, and where both notes move up or down in parallel motion.
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.
Tenuto
A type of articulation indicating to the player that a given note should be held for its full value or slightly more.
Two Note Slurs
Two notes connected together smoothly where the second note is played softer and lighter.
- Demonstrate
- Focus On Expressive Markings
- Isolate Voices
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice
- Work on a Smooth Legato Touch
- Work on Creating a Good Tone