8th Note Broken Chord Accompaniment
A type of accompaniment pattern that uses a persistent 8th note rhythm with broken chords, in varying note configurations.
A Tempo
An Italian term meaning "in time"; an indication instructing the player to return to the original tempo after a deviation.
Accelerando
An Italian term meaning "hastening"; an indication instructing the player to increase the speed, often gradually.
Accidentals
Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.
Clef Changes
More than one clef used in a staff in a single piece or movement.
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).
Fermatas
Indications placed above or below notes instructing the player to hold those notes longer than their original notated length.
Left Hand Melody
A type of texture where the left hand plays the melody and the right hand plays the accompaniment for an extended period of time.
Legato
A type of articulation indicating the player to play smoothly and seamlessly, with the notes slightly overlapped.
Ritardando
An Italian term meaning "delaying"; an indication instructing the player to decrease speed, often gradually.
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.
Tempo Changes
More than one tempo indication used in a single piece or movement.
- Choose Good Fingerings
- Demonstrate
- Hands Separate Practice
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice