Piano 101 Midterms

Measure / Bar

The space between bar lines that organizes rhythm.

Barlines

The lines used to organize and separate measures.

Double barline

Indicates the end, either for a section or a piece of music.

Repeat sign

A double bar line with two dots; indicates to return to the beginning or to the closest repeat sign.

Quarter note

The most common beat; currently represents 1 beat.

Half note

Equal to 2 quarter beats.

Dotted half note

Equal to 3 quarter beats.

Whole note

Equal to 4 quarter beats or 2 half beats.

Rests

Indicate measured silence:

• Quarter rest: a squiggle symbol
• Half rest: looks like a hat
• Whole rest: looks like a hole

Legato

To play connected from one note to the next.

Metronome

A device that keeps steady time.

Pitch

A note, sound, or tone.

Tie

A line over or under two identical notes next to each other; signals to hold the duration and do not play the second note.

Time signature

Indicates how many beats are in each measure. The top number tells us the number of beats, and the bottom number indicates what kind of beat. Example: \frac{3}{4} means 3 quarter beats per measure.

Grand staff

Two staves connected by a brace with treble and bass clefs.

Treble clef

The higher or G clef. The second line up is the G above middle C.

Bass clef

The lower or F clef. The fourth line up is the F below middle C.

Music score

The printed paper or sheet music containing all the notes.

System

Every set of two staves (one grand staff) on a page; each line of music.

Interval

The distance between only two notes. Intervals can cross over barlines and be distributed between hands.

Upbeats

Notes or beats that come before the first complete measure.

Downbeat

The first beat of every measure; the strongest felt beat.

Eighth beat

Twice as fast as a quarter beat. Two eighth beats equal 1 quarter beat.

Fermata sign

A symbol resembling a bird's eye that means to hold the note longer.

Slur

A line above or below 2 or more notes, indicating to play them legato (connected) without lifting.

Dynamics

How loud or soft we play.

Forte

Loud.

Piano

Soft.

Mezzo piano / Mezzo forte

Medium soft and medium loud respectively.

Crescendo (cresc.)

Gradually louder. The symbol looks like a hairpin or a sideways narrow V.

Diminuendo (dim.) / Decrescendo

Gradually play softer.

Half-step

The smallest distance on the keyboard between two notes. Example: E-F.

Whole-step

Equivalent to two half steps. Example: E-F#.

Accidentals

Symbols put in front of a note to raise, lower, or cancel its pitch.

Sharp

Raises the note up a half-step.

Flat

Lowers the note down a half-step.

Natural

Cancels the previous accidental.

Enharmonic

Two names for one note; they sound the same but look different in print.

Tempo

The speed; how fast or slow we play.

Sequence

A pattern that is repeated exactly up or down by step.

Accent

A symbol (<) on top or below a note indicating to stress the note and make it louder.

Ritardando (rit.)

To gradually play slower.

Major tetrachord

Two whole-steps followed by one half-step.

Major scale

Two tetrachords connected by one whole-step.

Scale degrees

Numbering the tones in a scale: 1-2-3, etc.

Phrase

A musical sentence; often denoted by a slur.

Portato

A staccato with a line over or under a note; means to play a long staccato or a 'sticky staccato'.

Tenuto

A line over or under a note, indicating to give the note a slight accent or special caress.

Quarter note

The most common beat; currently represents 1 beat.

Half note

Equal to 2 quarter beats.

Dotted half note

Equal to 3 quarter beats.

Whole note

Equal to 4 quarter beats or 2 half beats.

Rests

Indicate measured silence:

• Quarter rest: a squiggle symbol
• Half rest: looks like a hat
• Whole rest: looks like a hole

Legato

To play connected from one note to the next.

Metronome

A device that keeps steady time.

Pitch

A note, sound, or tone.

Tie

A line over or under two identical notes next to each other; signals to hold the duration and do not play the second note.

Time signature

Indicates how many beats are in each measure. The top number tells us the number of beats, and the bottom number indicates what kind of beat. Example: \frac{3}{4} means 3 quarter beats per measure.

Grand staff

Two staves connected by a brace with treble and bass clefs.

Treble clef

The higher or G clef. The second line up is the G above middle C.

Bass clef

The lower or F clef. The fourth line up is the F below middle C.

Music score

The printed paper or sheet music containing all the notes.

System

Every set of two staves (one grand staff) on a page; each line of music.

Interval

The distance between only two notes. Intervals can cross over barlines and be distributed between hands.

Upbeats

Notes or beats that come before the first complete measure.

Downbeat

The first beat of every measure; the strongest felt beat.

Eighth beat

Twice as fast as a quarter beat. Two eighth beats equal 1 quarter beat.

Fermata sign

A symbol resembling a bird's eye that means to hold the note longer.

Slur

A line above or below 2 or more notes, indicating to play them legato (connected) without lifting.

Dynamics

How loud or soft we play.

Forte

Loud.

Piano

Soft.

Mezzo piano / Mezzo forte

Medium soft and medium loud respectively.

Crescendo (cresc.)

Gradually louder. The symbol looks like a hairpin or a sideways narrow V.

Diminuendo (dim.) / Decrescendo

Gradually play softer.

Half-step

The smallest distance on the keyboard between two notes. Example: E-F.

Whole-step

Equivalent to two half steps. Example: E-F#.

Accidentals

Symbols put in front of a note to raise, lower, or cancel its pitch.

Sharp

Raises the note up a half-step.

Flat

Lowers the note down a half-step.

Natural

Cancels the previous accidental.

Enharmonic

Two names for one note; they sound the same but look different in print.

Tempo

The speed; how fast or slow we play.

Sequence

A pattern that is repeated exactly up or down by step.

Accent

A symbol (<) on top or below a note indicating to stress the note and make it louder.

Ritardando (rit.)

To gradually play slower.

Major tetrachord

Two whole-steps followed by one half-step.

Major scale

Two tetrachords connected by one whole-step.

Scale degrees

Numbering the tones in a scale: 1-2-3, etc.

Phrase

A musical sentence; often denoted by a slur.

Portato

A staccato with a line over or under a note; means to play a long staccato or a 'sticky staccato'.

Tenuto

A line over or under a note, indicating to give the note a slight accent or special caress.