Creative
When composing, this term is used to describe how fast or slow the music should be played.
What is tempo?
In a performance, this term refers to how well different instruments or voices blend together without overpowering each other.
What is balance?
In responding to the rhythm of a song, this term refers to the regular pulse that you tap your foot to while listening.
What is beat?
This symbol connects to the beginning of a staff to set the key of the piece.
What is the key signature?
This term refers to the clarity and precision of playing or singing notes.
What is articulation?
Composers use this term to describe the loudness or softness of music, helping to express emotions in their creations.
What are dynamics?
When performing, this musical term refers to playing or singing smoothly and connected, without breaks between notes.
What is legato?
This is the symbol at the beginning of the staff that tells you the pitch range for treble or bass.
What is a clef?
These two clefs connect to cover the full range of most instruments and voices.
What are the treble clef and bass clef?
This is the word for following the conductor’s movements while performing in an ensemble.
What is conducting?
This is the main tune of a song, the part that is most memorable and often sung by the lead singer or main instrument.
What is melody?
In performing, this term tells you to play the notes short and detached.
What is staccato?
This is the symbol that separates music into measures.
What is a bar line?
These two musical concepts connect to create dynamics, indicating changes in volume.
What are crescendo and decrescendo?
This is the mark that indicates where to breathe while singing or playing a wind instrument.
What is a breath mark?
In music creation, this word refers to how many different musical parts are being played or sung at the same time.
What is texture?
In a performance, if the conductor tells you to play very softly, they are asking for this dynamic marking.
What is pianissimo?
This is the musical term for the combination of long and short sounds and silences.
What is rhythm?
These two accidentals connect as symbols that modify the pitch of a note.
What are sharp and flat?
This term means playing a note with emphasis or stress.
What is an accent?
When you make up music as you go along, without any sheet music, you're doing this.
What is improvisation?
This term refers to gradually slowing down the tempo during a performance.
What is ritardando?
This musical concept connects a sharp, flat, and natural as a group.
What are accidentals?
These two types of notes connect as opposites in duration, one being the shortest and the other the longest in common music notation.
What are the sixteenth note and whole note?
This is the word for maintaining an even and consistent sound throughout a note.
What is tone quality?