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.
Crescendo and Diminuendo
Indications instructing the player to play gradually louder (crescendo) or softer (diminuendo).
Elementary Single Note Accompaniment
A type of accompaniment pattern where only one note is played at a time, usually within a single five finger scale and with simple rhythms.
Extended Hand Positions
Hand positions that require stretching beyond a five finger scale; usually to play intervals that are 6ths or greater.
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.
Piano
An indication instructing the player to play softly.
Ritardando
An Italian term meaning "delaying"; an indication instructing the player to decrease speed, often gradually.
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.
- Demonstrate
- Hands Separate Practice
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice