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.
8th Rests
Silence that equals the length of one 8th note.
Accents
Indications instructing the player to put special emphasis on notes.
Anacrusis
Sometimes called upbeats or pickup notes; a note or series of notes that precede and give stress to the first downbeat of a piece.
Blocked 5ths Accompaniment
A type of accompaniment pattern that primarily uses repeating blocked 5ths in a single position with simple or slow-moving rhythms.
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.
Crescendo and Diminuendo
Indications instructing the player to play gradually louder (crescendo) or softer (diminuendo).
D.S. al Coda
An indication instructing the player to go back to the "S" symbol, then jump to the coda when "al coda" or "to coda" is reached.
Dotted 8th Notes
8th notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 16th notes.
Half Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one half the value of a whole note.
Homophony
A type of texture where a melody is supported by one or more voices with all the voices following the same or similar rhythm.
Intermediate Two Voices in One Hand
A type of texture where one or both hands play more than one voice at a time with large intervals, many hand positions, and complex rhythms.
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.
Quarter Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-fourth the value of a whole note.
Repeat Sign
A symbol indicating that a section should be repeated.
Repeated Single Notes
The same note that occurs several times in a row throughout a piece.
Syncopation
Temporary displacement of established meter by the stressing of a weak beat.
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.
Whole Notes
Notes whose lengths are four beats.
- Focus On Expressive Markings
- Focus on the Left Hand Accompaniment Patterns
- Hands Separate Practice
- Help Student Achieve Sensitive and Musical Playing
- Highlight Dynamic Contrasts
- Highlight the Contrasting Characters of Each Section
- Play Similar Passages Together
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice
- Study the Contour of the Individual Voices
- Study the Contour of the Melody
- Work on a Smooth Legato Touch
- Work on Creating a Good Tone
- Work on Creating a Mysterious Character
- Work on Expressive Phrasing
- Work on Getting the Correct Style