The Painted Desert by Dennis Alexander and Martha Mier

8th Note Chromatic Scales

Scales and Hand Positions

Chromatic scales played with predominantly 8th note rhythms.

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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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A Tempo

Meter

An Italian term meaning "in time"; an indication instructing the player to return to the original tempo after a deviation.

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Accidentals

Intervals

Sharps, flats and naturals that do not appear in a key signature.

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Blocked 7ths

Intervals

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

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Blocked Intervals Accompaniment

Accompaniment Patterns

An accompaniment that uses a variety of blocked intervals with a relatively equal rate of occurrence.

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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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Crossing Over Thumb

Hand and Finger Techniques

The physical motion of crossing fingers 2, 3, 4, or 5 over the thumb; used when playing scalar passages or outside of five finger scales.

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Crossing Thumb Under

Hand and Finger Techniques

The physical motion of crossing the thumb under fingers 2, 3, 4, or 5; used when playing scalar passages or outside of five finger scales.

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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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Hand Crossing

Hand and Finger Techniques

A technique that involves one hand crossing over or under the other.

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Ledger Lines

Notes and Notation

Additional lines added above or below the staff in order to place very high or very low notes that wouldn't normally fit on the staff.

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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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Pianissimo

Expression

An indication instructing the player to play very softly; softer than piano.

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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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The Painted Desert

Dennis Alexander
Martha Mier

Video

Elements

8th Note Chromatic Scales

8th Notes

A Tempo

Accidentals

Blocked 7ths

Blocked Intervals Accompaniment

Broken Intervals Accompaniment

Crossing Over Thumb

Crossing Thumb Under

Extended Hand Positions

Fermatas

Hand Crossing

Ledger Lines

Melodic 7ths

Pianissimo

Ritardando

Shifting Hand Positions

Sustain Pedal

Details