Hand and Finger Techniques

Hand positions that require stretching beyond a five finger scale; usually to play intervals that are 6ths or greater.

Rhythm

Indications placed above or below notes instructing the player to hold those notes longer than their original notated length.

Intervals

Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 5th of any quality.

Intervals

Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 6th of any quality.

Expression

A simple melody line shared by both the right hand and the left hand.

Expression

An indication instructing the player to play moderately soft; between mezzo forte and piano.

Expression

An indication instructing the player to play very softly; softer than piano.

Expression

An indication instructing the player to play softly.

Expression

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.

Rhythm

Temporary displacement of established meter by the stressing of a weak beat.

Rhythm

Symbols indicating that two notes are to be played as one with the value equal to their sum.