Leveling
Difficulty levels for repertoire are indicated using numbers 1-10. This approach was modeled after the system found in The Pianist's Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Literature, by Jane Magrath.
Techniques
In an effort to create the most intuitive list, individual techniques are found within an umbrella category. For example, the technique "staccato" is found under the umbrella category "articulation." The technique "left-hand melody" is found under the category "voicing." A complete list of techniques with links to examples appears below.
In our database, techniques are associated with a work if they are significant to the search for repertoire. We determined that teachers would want to search by techniques for two reasons: (1) the technique is a new hurdle for the student or (2) the technique pervades a work. A work's difficulty level is significant in this determination. To illustrate, a level 2-work with melody in the left-hand is a new challenge and it appears in the list of techniques. If this same technique saturates a level 8-work, it is not considered a new challenge, but it is still associated with the work since it pervades the piece in the manner of an etude.
Technique Families:
20th-Century
Accompaniment
Articulation
Chords
Coordination
Counterpoint
Handspan
Musicality
Ornaments
Runs and Figurations
Shifts
Voicing
Complete Technique List:
20th-Century
20th-Century
- Contemporary Notation
20th-Century - Free Rhythm
20th-Century - Indeterminate
20th-Century - No Bar Lines
20th-Century - Non-standard Performance Elements (see comments)
Accompaniment
Accompaniment
- Alberti/Rotation
Accompaniment - Arpeggiated Between Hands
Accompaniment - Arpeggiated with Finger Cross
Accompaniment - Broken Chord/Circular
Accompaniment - Chordal
Accompaniment - Jump Bass/Oom-Pah
Accompaniment - Ostinato/Drone
Accompaniment - Waltz
Articulation
Articulation
- 2-note Slurs
Articulation - 3-note Slurs
Articulation - Accents
Articulation - Legato
Articulation - Mixed Legato/Staccato
Articulation - Non-legato
Articulation - Staccato
Chords
Chords
- Chorale
Chords - Clusters
Chords - Dyads
Chords - First Inversion Triads
Chords - Full Triads
Chords - Intervals 2nds
Chords - Intervals 3rds
Chords - Intervals 4ths
Chords - Intervals 5ths
Chords - Intervals 6ths
Chords - Intervals 7ths
Chords - Intervals 8ves
Chords - Large/Thick Chords
Chords - Rolled Chords
Coordination
Coordination
- Alternating Hands
Coordination - Close/Interlocked Hands
Coordination - Contrary Motion
Coordination - Hand Crossing
Coordination - Parallel Motion
Coordination - Syncopation
Counterpoint
Counterpoint
- 2-Voice
Counterpoint - 3-Voice
Counterpoint - 4-Voice
Counterpoint - 5-Voice
Handspan
Musicality
Musicality
- Accelarando/Rubato/Ritard
Musicality - Dynamic Contrasts
Musicality - Mixed Meter
Musicality - Non-overlapping Pedal
Musicality - Overlapping Pedal
Musicality - Una corda
Ornaments
Ornaments
- Glissandos
Ornaments - Grace Notes/Appoggiatura
Ornaments - Long Trills
Ornaments - Tremolos
Ornaments - Trills/Turns/Mordents/Etc.
Runs and Figurations
Runs and
Figurations - 5-Finger Patterns
Runs and Figurations - Arpeggiated Chords
Runs and Figurations - Cadenza
Runs and Figurations - Chromatic Scales
Runs and Figurations - Double Notes
Runs and Figurations - Fioratura
Runs and Figurations - Repeated Chords
Runs and Figurations - Repeated Notes
Runs and Figurations - Scalar
Shifts
Shifts -
5-Finger Positions
Shifts - Contraction/Expansion
Shifts - Leaps
Voicing
Voicing
- Cantabile Melody
Voicing - 2 Layers in 1 Hand
Voicing - Inner Melody
Voicing - Left-hand Melody
Voicing - Melody Between Hands
Voicing - Right-hand Melody
Voicing - Top Note in Chords