Final answer:
The addition of one or more notes slightly before a pitch is called an appoggiatura or grace note. Appoggiaturas are embellishments used in music to convey emotion or complexity and are learned as pianists progress beyond basic concepts like musical notes and pitch perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The addition of one or more notes in slight anticipation of a pitch is commonly known as an appoggiatura or grace note in musical terminology. These are extra notes added as embellishments, often used to accentuate the emotion or add complexity to the melody. Appoggiaturas can be identified in written music as smaller notes preceding the main note. This musical technique is frequently used across various genres to create a specific effect or emotional response from the audience.
When a pianist learns to play such embellishments, they already understand the basic elements like the musical notes, which are named for example as A-sharp, C, or E-flat, and how they are perceived as pitch. As they progress, they can apply mnemonics such as "Every good boy does fine" to remember the order of notes on the treble clef, further cementing their foundational knowledge before tackling more advanced concepts like appoggiaturas.