Meter

An Italian term meaning "in time"; an indication instructing the player to return to the original tempo after a deviation.

Expression

Indications instructing the player to put special emphasis on notes.

Intervals

Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.

Meter

Sometimes called upbeats or pickup notes; a note or series of notes that precede and give stress to the first downbeat of a piece.

Intervals

Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 3rd of any quality.

Intervals

Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 6th of any quality.

Chords

Chord tones played together that are not part of an accompaniment pattern.

Chords

Chord tones played one note at a time that are not part of an accompaniment pattern.

Chords

Chords with alternate ordering of their tones where the root is placed either in the middle or at the top of the chord.

Texture

A type of texture where the contour of the notes in one hand is the exact opposite to that of the other hand as they play simultaneously.

Expression

Indications instructing the player to play gradually louder (crescendo) or softer (diminuendo).

Chords

Four-note chords comprised of the root, minor 3rd, diminished 5th, and diminished 7th; typically have a dominant function.

Rhythm

Quarter notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 8th notes.

Rhythm

Indications placed above or below notes instructing the player to hold those notes longer than their original notated length.

Chords

Chords with an alternate ordering of their tones where the root is placed on the top and the 3rd and 5th below.

Expression

Ornamentations that are notated in a smaller size than normal notes and played slightly before them.

Texture

A type of texture where a melody is supported by one or more voices with all the voices following the same or similar rhythm.

Texture

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.

Expression

A type of articulation indicating the player to play smoothly and seamlessly, with the notes slightly overlapped.

Intervals

Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 2nd of any quality.

Intervals

Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 3rd of any quality.

Intervals

Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 4th of any quality.

Intervals

Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 6th of any quality.

Intervals

Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 7th of any quality.

Expression

Embellishments added to melodies that serve to decorate, increase interest, and allow performers to add their own unique expressiveness.

Texture

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.

Expression

An indication instructing the player to play softly.

Rhythm

Notes whose lengths are equal to one-fourth the value of a whole note.

Notation

A symbol indicating that a section should be repeated.

Meter

An Italian term meaning "delaying"; an indication instructing the player to decrease speed, often gradually.

Expression

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.

Expression

A type of articulation indicating to the player that a given note should be held for its full value or slightly more.

Rhythm

Symbols indicating that two notes are to be played as one with the value equal to their sum.

Expression

Two notes connected together smoothly where the second note is played softer and lighter.