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.
Broken Chords
Chord tones played one note at a time that are not part of an accompaniment pattern.
Dotted Half Notes
Half notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three quarter notes.
Fermatas
Indications placed above or below notes instructing the player to hold those notes longer than their original notated length.
Ledger Lines
Additional lines added above or below the staff in order to place very high or very low notes that wouldn't normally fit on the staff.
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.
Quarter Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-fourth the value of a whole note.
Staccato
A type of articulation indicating the player to play short and light; notes not held for their full value.
Syncopation
Temporary displacement of established meter by the stressing of a weak beat.
Tempo Changes
More than one tempo indication used in a single piece or movement.
- Focus On Expressive Markings
- Map Out Hand Position Shifts
- Play Small Segments
- Prepare Challenging Rhythms
- Slow Practice