16th Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one-sixteenth the value of a whole note or one quarter of a quarter note.
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.
A Tempo
An Italian term meaning "in time"; an indication instructing the player to return to the original tempo after a deviation.
Accidentals
Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.
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.
Broken Chord Accompaniment
A type of accompaniment pattern that primarily uses broken chords in varying note configurations, with simple or slow-moving rhythms.
Broken Chords
Chord tones played one note at a time that are not part of an accompaniment pattern.
Clef Changes
More than one clef used in a staff in a single piece or movement.
Crescendo and Diminuendo
Indications instructing the player to play gradually louder (crescendo) or softer (diminuendo).
Crossing Thumb Under
The physical motion of crossing the thumb under fingers 2, 3, 4, or 5; used when playing scalar passages or outside of five finger scales.
Dotted Half Notes
Half notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three quarter notes.
Dotted Quarter Notes
Quarter notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three 8th notes.
Fermatas
Indications placed above or below notes instructing the player to hold those notes longer than their original notated length.
Grace Notes
Ornamentations that are notated in a smaller size than normal notes and played slightly before them.
Half Notes
Notes whose lengths are equal to one half the value of a whole note.
Half Rests
Silence that equals the length of one half note.
Hands Separate
A technique that involves only one hand playing at a time throughout most or all of a piece; used only at lower levels.
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.
Melodic 2nds
Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 2nd of any quality.
Melodic 3rds
Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 3rd of any quality.
Melodic 4ths
Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 4th of any quality.
Melodic 5ths
Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 5th of any quality.
Melodic 6ths
Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 6th of any quality.
Melodic 7ths
Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 7th of any quality.
Melodic Octaves
Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of an octave of any quality.
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.
Parallel 6ths
A series of any amount or quality of blocked 6th intervals that are played in one hand, and where both notes move up or down in parallel motion.
Parallel Motion
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.
Pianissimo
An indication instructing the player to play very softly; softer than piano.
Piano
An indication instructing the player to play softly.
Quarter Rests
Silence that equals the length of one quarter note.
Right Hand Only
A simple piece that is played using only the right hand.
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 Time Signature
A time signature where the fundamental beat is subdivided into groupings of two.
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.
Whole Notes
Notes whose lengths are four beats.
Whole Rests
Silence that equals the length of one whole note or an entire measure in 4/4 or 3/4.
Melody Between Hands
A simple melody line shared by both the right hand and the left hand.
- Demonstrate
- 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 Contrast in Articulation
- Highlight the Contrasting Characters of Each Section
- Play Only the Bottom Note of the Accompaniment Pattern
- Play Similar Passages Together
- Play Small Segments
- Practice Scalar Passages in Rhythms
- Prepare Challenging Rhythms
- Slow Practice
- Study the Contour of the Individual Voices
- Study the Contour of the Melody
- Tap and Count
- Tap One Hand While Playing the Other
- Work on a Smooth Legato Touch
- Work on Creating a Good Tone
- Work on Expressive Phrasing