Music Theory Basics, A Staccato

September 16, 2023 / Lani Elston

Hello everyone! Just a quick post today. In the image above, you will see a quarter note with a dot below it. That means to play the note as a staccato, which is a type of articulation in music. The mark that signifies a staccato is a dot immediately above or below the note. I know it’s easy to see that in the picture, but a staccato can sometimes be confused with dotted notes - which have a dot to the side of the note.

So what is a staccato? A staccato tells us to play short and detached with a clear break in sound between the notes. One detail to consider with your music is that not all staccatos are the same: some should be played very agitated & bold while others should be performed more delicately. Take a look at the character of your piece or passage of music for context on how to interpret which style you should play. If you are taking piano lessons, ask your teacher! This is a great conversation to have and can help you learn more about musical interpretation.

One last tip: once you identify the style of the staccatos you would like to play, keep them consistent when played in repetition or similar passages. You will sound very polished. Happy practicing!

Questions? Feel free to contact me anytime. - Lani

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