Quiet Thoughts by Dennis Alexander and Martha Mier

8th Notes

Rhythm

Notes whose lengths are equal to one-eighth the value of a whole note or half the value of a quarter note.

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Blocked 3rds

Intervals

Two notes played together, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 3rd of any quality.

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Blocked 5ths

Intervals

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

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Broken Intervals Accompaniment

Accompaniment Patterns

An accompaniment pattern that uses a series of broken intervals of any distance or 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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Dotted Half Notes

Rhythm

Half notes whose lengths are increased by half; equal to three quarter notes.

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Extended Hand Positions

Hand and Finger Techniques

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

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Fermatas

Rhythm

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

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Flat

Notes and Notation

A sign placed in front of a note that lowers its pitch by a half step.

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Legato

Expression

A type of articulation indicating the player to play smoothly and seamlessly, with the notes slightly overlapped.

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Melodic 7ths

Intervals

Two notes played in succession, usually in one hand but sometimes in both, whose distance is the interval of a 7th of any quality.

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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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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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Ties

Rhythm

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

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Quiet Thoughts

Dennis Alexander
Martha Mier

Video

Elements

8th Notes

Blocked 3rds

Blocked 5ths

Broken Intervals Accompaniment

C Major Five Finger Scale

Dotted Half Notes

Extended Hand Positions

Fermatas

Flat

Legato

Melodic 7ths

Octave Higher or Octave Lower

Shifting Hand Positions

Sustain Pedal

Ties

Details