Piano theory

chromatic scale

Each step is a half step away

Whole tone scale

Uses only whole steps

Ionian mode

same as the major scale

Dorian mode

half steps between 2-3, 6-7

AKA take major scale and lower the 3rd and 7th a half note

Mixolydian mode

Half steps between 3-4, 6-7

AKA major scale with a lowered 7th

Aeolian MOde

Half step between 2-3, 5-6

AKA Major scale with lowered, 3, 6, 7

The modes

Ionian

dorian

phyrgian

lydian

mixolydian

aeolian

locrian

Authentic, Deceptive, Half, Plagal

Authentic: V-I

Deceptive: V-vi

Half: V in the back

Plagal: IV-I

Repetition, Imitation, Sequence, Canon

Repetition: repeated exactly the same

Imitation: repeated in a different voice/hand

Sequence: repeated on a different note

Canon: entire melody repeated in a different voice/hand

The periods were what time periods?

Baroque(1600-1750)

Classical(1750, 1825)
Romantic(1825-1900)

Contemporary(1900-2000)

Frescobaldi, Soler, Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Purcell, Telemann

Baroque

Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart

Classical

Grieg, Dvorak, Schumann, Chopin, Schuber, Brahms

Romantic

Dello-Joio, Prokofiev, Bartok, Shostakovich, Kabalevesky, Copland

Contemporary

adagio

slowly

allargando

broadening, gradually slower

allegretto

slightly slower than allegro, faster than andantea

andanted

a moderate walking tempo

andantino

slightly faster than andante

atonality

no specific key or tonality

bitonality

the use of two different keys at the same time

con brio

with brilliance

coda

an extended ending

codetta

a short section of music that connects two other sections but is not part of either, or a short coda

doloroso

sadly, sorrowful

giocoso

merrrily, with humor

grazioso

gracefully

leggiero

lightly, delicatioely

lento

slowly

marcato

stressed, marked

meno

less

mordent

an ornament in which the written note is played, followed by the note below the wrriten note and the written note again

opus

a word used to indicate the chronologicla order in which a composer’s music was written

ostinato

a persistently repeated pattern

parallel major/minor

same letter name(C major vs c minor)

pesante

heavily

piu

morep

piu mosso

more motion, faster

polytonality

the use of several different keys at the same time

ritenuto

immediately slower

scherzando

playfully, jokingly

sempre

always

senza

without

subito

suddenly, all at once

tre corda

release the soft pedal

trill

the written note is alternated continuously with the note above

trill with a prefix

a trill performed with an added beginning fro above or below

una corda

press the soft pedal

vivo

brisk, lively (like life yk)