1st and 2nd Endings
Symbols that indicate different measures to play during repeated sections.
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.
Accidentals
Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.
Blocked 2nds
Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 2nd of any quality.
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.
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.
Forte
An indication instructing the player to play loudly.
Fortissimo
An indication instructing the player to play very loudly; louder than forte.
Repeated Single Notes
The same note that occurs several times in a row throughout a piece.
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.
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.
- Clap and Count
- Demonstrate
- Hands Separate Practice
- Isolate Voices
- Map Out Hand Position Shifts
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice