Notes and Symbols
The set of five lines and four spaces where music is written.
Staff
A note that gets 1 beat in 4/4 time.
Quarter Note
The music alphabet goes from A to…
G
The Italian word for “soft.”
Piano
The main tune in a piece of music.
Melody
A Small line that extends the staff for very high or low notes
Ledger Line
This note lasts 4 beats.
Whole Note
Moving from C to D is an example of this interval.
Second (Step)
The Italian word for "medium loud"
Mezzo Forte
A short musical idea that repeats at different pitch levels.
Sequence
This sign tells you to play higher notes, usually for the right hand.
This rhythm is 3 beats long.
Dotted Half Note
Moving from C to E is an example of this interval.
Third (Skip)
This marking tells you how loud or soft to play overall.
Dynamics
When a piece or section is played again, you’ll see this symbol.
Repeat Sign
Two vertical lines at the end of a piece of music.
Double Bar Line
The musical “math problem” at the beginning of a piece that tells you how many beats are in each measure.
Time Signature
A set of 5 notes starting on C is called this.
C Pentascale
A smooth, connected style of playing.
Legato
The structure of a piece of music (like ABA, rondo, etc.).
Musical Form
The Squiggly bracket that connects the treble and bass clefs together creates this
Grand Staff
A curved line that connects two of the same note values together.
Tie
Playing C-E-G all together at the same time is a ___ chord. Playing them one at a time is a ___ chord.
Blocked; Broken
A long curved line over notes that shows you to play them smoothly in a phrase.
Slur
A long work written for orchestra, usually in 4 movements.
Symphony