8th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-eighth the value of a whole note or half the value of a quarter note.
Accidentals
Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.
Broken Chords
Chord tones played one note at a time that are not part of an accompaniment pattern.
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.
Imitation
A type of texture where one hand plays a series of notes that are mimicked in the other hand.
Legato
A type of articulation indicating the player to play smoothly and seamlessly, with the notes slightly overlapped.
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.
Tempo Changes
More than one tempo indication used in a single piece or movement.
- Choose Good Fingerings
- Demonstrate
- Hands Separate Practice
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice