Road Signs (Symbols & Terms)
This symbol looks like a fraction at the start of a piece and tells you how many beats are in a measure.
What is a Time Signature?
On a woodwind or brass instrument, this is the term for the way you shape your mouth and lips to produce a sound.
What is Embouchure?
In 4/4 time, this note receives four full beats.
What is a Whole Note?
This "March King" wrote The Stars and Stripes Forever.
Who is John Philip Sousa?
You should never use this "superhero" named household lubricant on your trombone slide or trumpet valves.
What is WD-40?
This Italian term tells you to play "sweetly."
What is Dolce?
To make a pitch higher or "sharp," you usually need to do this to your tuning slide.
What is push it in?
This type of note is worth half of a single beat in common time.
What is an Eighth Note?
This composer is famous for his Planets suite, which contains the band favorite "Jupiter."
Who is Gustav Holst?
This is the "proper" way to sit in your chair to ensure maximum air capacity.
What is Sitting on the edge/Feet flat/Back straight?
When you see a "dot" placed directly above or below a note head, you should play it short and detached.
What is Staccato?
This is the scientific term for how fast a sound wave vibrates, which determines the pitch.
What is Frequency?
Adding a dot to the right side of a note increases its duration by this percentage.
What is 50% or Half?
This era of music (roughly 1600–1750) featured composers like Bach and Vivaldi.
What is the Baroque Era?
If the conductor’s baton is moving in a "down-left-right-up" pattern, they are conducting in this time signature.
What is 4/4?
This symbol (D.C.) tells you to go back to the very beginning of the piece.
What is Da Capo?
This woodwind instrument is the only one in the standard band that doesn't use a reed.
What is the Flute?
A grouping of three notes played in the space of two is called this.
What is a Triplet?
This American composer wrote Appalachian Spring and is known for the "Open American" sound.
Who is Aaron Copland?
This small piece of equipment is used by brass players to change the timbre of their instrument or make it quieter.
What is a Mute?
If you see a sfz marking, you should play with a sudden, strong emphasis.
What is Sforzando?
To play a "Concert Bb" on an Alto Saxophone, the player must actually play this note.
What is G?
In 6/8 time, this specific note value gets the "pulse" or the main beat.
What is a Dotted Quarter Note?
Most modern band pieces follow "Ternary Form," which is represented by these three letters.
What is ABA?
This is the term for two or more notes played simultaneously that sound "clashy" or unstable.
What is Dissonance?