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.
Broken Chords
Chord tones played one note at a time that are not part of an accompaniment pattern.
Crescendo and Diminuendo
Indications instructing the player to play gradually louder (crescendo) or softer (diminuendo).
Crossing Over Thumb
The physical motion of crossing fingers 2, 3, 4, or 5 over the thumb; used when playing scalar passages or outside of five finger scales.
Extended Hand Positions
Hand positions that require stretching beyond a five finger scale; usually to play intervals that are 6ths or greater.
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.
Repeat Sign
A symbol indicating that a section should be repeated.
Ritardando
An Italian term meaning "delaying"; an indication instructing the player to decrease speed, often gradually.
- Choose Good Fingerings
- Hands Separate Practice
- Play Small Segments
- Slow Practice
- Work on Expressive Phrasing