Growing by Martha Mier and Dennis Alexander

Blocked 6ths

Intervals

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

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C Major Five Finger Scale

Scales and Hand Positions

A simple scale that contains the first five notes of the C Major scale.

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Half Notes

Rhythm

Notes whose lengths are equal to one half the value of a whole note.

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Melodic 5ths

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.

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Melodic 6ths

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.

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Melody Between Hands

Texture

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

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Mezzo Forte

Expression

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

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Octave Higher or Octave Lower

Notes and Notation

Symbols that indicate playing a note or range of notes either an octave higher or lower than notated.

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Quarter Notes

Rhythm

Notes whose lengths are equal to one-fourth the value of a whole note.

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Ritardando

Meter

An Italian term meaning "delaying"; an indication instructing the player to decrease speed, often gradually.

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Shifting Hand Positions

Hand and Finger Techniques

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.

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Sustain Pedal

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.

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Growing

Dennis Alexander
Martha Mier

Video

Elements

Blocked 6ths

C Major Five Finger Scale

Half Notes

Melodic 5ths

Melodic 6ths

Melody Between Hands

Mezzo Forte

Octave Higher or Octave Lower

Quarter Notes

Ritardando

Shifting Hand Positions

Sustain Pedal

Details