Rainy Day Blues by Martha Mier and Dennis Alexander

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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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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Dotted Half Notes

Rhythm

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

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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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G Major Five Finger Scale

Scales and Hand Positions

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

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Imitation

Texture

A type of texture where one hand plays a series of notes that are mimicked in the other hand.

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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 3rds

Intervals

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

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Natural

Notes and Notation

A sign placed in front of a note that returns its pitch back to normal (returning to a white key).

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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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Ties

Rhythm

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

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Whole Rests

Rhythm

Silence that equals the length of one whole note or an entire measure in 4/4 or 3/4.

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Rainy Day Blues

Dennis Alexander
Martha Mier

Video

Elements

Blocked 5ths

Blocked 6ths

Dotted Half Notes

Flat

G Major Five Finger Scale

Imitation

Legato

Melodic 3rds

Natural

Quarter Notes

Ritardando

Shifting Hand Positions

Sustain Pedal

Ties

Whole Rests

Details