"Staccato - Detached Piano Playing"

Staccato is an Italian word meaning "detached" -- a way of playing the notes on the piano so that they are distinctly separate from each other. This doesn't affect the rhythm in any way, however. Staccato is indicated by a dot above or below a note in the music, or by the word "staccato" written into the score. Staccato notes don't have an exact length -- interpretation depends on the style of the piece, its speed and the performer's own taste.

Stacatto, Staccatto

Staccato playing on the piano is the opposite of legato playing.