Piano

The piano is the center instrument in almost all western music and is a crucial component in almost every genre from jazz to classical. Along with keyboards and all the various electric forms the piano can either be a rhythmic instrument (in jazz big bands for example) or the main melodic and harmonic instrument as in many jazz and contemporary ballads.

The typical piano has a set of 88 keys but can range in size from a narrow upright to a full grand and baby grand. While a grand piano is common in an orchestral setting and in certain jazz venues various sizes and shapes of the instrument are used in a live setting depending on the venue and style of music.

The piano has one of the largest ranges of any instrument in the world and spans from a low A0 up until C8. While some pianos have an upper and lower extended range (certain Boesendorfer pianos for example) these are not as common in contemporary music and should not be arranged for unless specifically requested.

Note(s) to be played short and separated.

Best used in combination with staccato markings to indicate a note is to be played for its full value. Otherwise it means the note should receive some emphasis but what for that will take is context dependent.

Play the note accented for its full value.

As with jazz arranging in general the marcato articulation usually results in an accented note with a shorter value (about 2/3) than a standard accent. Use for short, punchy lines or chord shots that need some space and tightness to them.

Because the piano is technically a percussive instrument a slurs is are not technically possible in a hard sense. However most piano players can achieve this effect by hitting a half or whole step grace note before the desired note (similar to a hammer-on/pull-off on a stringed instrument.

Quickly arpeggiate the notes in a chord.