16th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-sixteenth the value of a whole note or one quarter of a quarter note.
8th Note Broken Chord Accompaniment
A type of accompaniment pattern that uses a persistent 8th note rhythm with broken chords, in varying note configurations.
8th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-eighth the value of a whole note or half the value of a quarter note.
Accents
Indications instructing the player to put special emphasis on notes.
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.
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).
Crossing Over Thumb
The physical motion of crossing fingers 2, 3, 4, or 5 over the thumb; used when playing scalar passages or outside of five finger scales.
Crossing Thumb Under
The physical motion of crossing the thumb under fingers 2, 3, 4, or 5; used when playing scalar passages or outside of five finger scales.
Dotted 8th Notes
8th notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 16th notes.
Dotted Half Notes
Half notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three quarter notes.
Dotted Quarter Notes
Quarter notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 8th notes.
Half Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one half the value of a whole note.
Melodic 2nds
Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 2nd of any quality.
Melodic 3rds
Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 3rd of any quality.
Melodic 4ths
Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 4th of any quality.
Mezzo Forte
A simple melody line shared by both the right hand and the left hand.
Mezzo Piano
An indication instructing the player to play moderately soft; between mezzo forte and piano.
Minor Seventh Chords
Four-note chords composed of the root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, and minor 7th.
Octave Higher and Octave Lower
Symbols that indicate playing a note or range of notes either an octave higher or lower than notated.
Parallel Motion
A type texture that occurs when the contour, distance, and speed of the notes in one hand matches that of the other hand as they play together.
Pianissimo
An indication instructing the player to play very softly; softer than piano.
Shifting Hand Positions
A technique that requires the player to pick up and move their hand to a new position; usually from a five finger scale to another.
Simple Two Voices in One Hand
A type of texture where one or both hands play more than one voice at a time; usually briefly and with simple rhythms.
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.
Tenuto
A type of articulation indicating to the player that a given note should be held for its full value or slightly more.
Ties
Symbols indicating that two notes are to be played as one with the value equal to their sum.
Two Note Slurs
Two notes connected together smoothly where the second note is played softer and lighter.
- Block the Broken Chords
- Focus On Expressive Markings
- Focus on the Left Hand Accompaniment Patterns
- Help Student Achieve Sensitive and Musical Playing
- Slow Practice
- Study the Contour of the Melody
- Work on a Smooth Legato Touch