The portamento sign uses a combination of two signs you have already seen.
It uses the staccato dot and the legato line.
Sometimes called the mezzo staccato (moderately short and detached) this sign tells us to play a long note that is then detached from the proceeding note.
To play the portamento or mezzo staccato correctly, keep your forearm parallel to the floor as you push your finger into the key.
The above exercise is to be played with only 1 finger. It would be a good chance for you to try playing the exercise 5 times, once for each finger so you can see for yourself the difference in finger strength.
To play the second exercise be very careful of your finger positions as your hands are required to expand and contract.
The goal of this exercise is to achieve an even tone across all five fingers so that the listener will not know which finger is being used.
Take care to keep each portamento line separate from the adjoining bars.
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