Musical Elements
The musical element that describes how loud or soft the music is.
What is dynamics?
The repeated section of a song that usually contains the main message.
What is the chorus?
In written music, this refers to how long sounds and silences last.
What is duration?
(Also accept: note value, notes and rests)
This dynamic marking indicates a soft volume level.
What is piano?
This measurement is used to count and compare the speed of music.
What is beats per minute?
The music was very soft at the beginning, marked with the dynamic ______.
What is pianissimo?
The main tune or musical line that you can sing or hum.
What is melody?
The opening section that introduces the song before the main material begins.
What is the intro?
A note that lasts one beat in common time.
What is a quarter note?
This dynamic marking indicates a loud volume level.
What is forte?
This Italian tempo marking suggests a lively, energetic speed.
What is vivace?
The tempo marking ______ suggests a walking pace.
What is andante?
The musical element that describes how many layers of sound are happening at once.
What is texture?
The section of a song with changing lyrics that helps tell the story.
What is the verse?
Silence that lasts one beat in common time.
What is a quarter rest?
This dynamic marking means very soft.
What is pianissimo?
This Italian tempo marking means a walking pace.
The composer used a ______ to gradually increase the volume.
What is a crescendo?
The element that explains why a trumpet and a flute sound different playing the same note.
What is timbre?
The ending section of a song that brings the music to a close.
What is the outro?
(or What is a coda?)
A note that lasts two beats in common time.
What is a half note?
This dynamic marking means very loud.
What is fortissimo?
This Italian tempo marking means very fast.
What is presto?
The melody featured short, detached notes played in a ______ style.
What is staccato?
The organization and layout of a piece of music.
What is form?
The most memorable part of a song, designed to catch the listener’s attention.
What is the hook?
Silence that lasts the entire measure in 4/4 time.
What is a whole rest?
This dynamic marking means medium soft.
What is mezzo piano?
This tempo marking means gradually slowing down.
What is ritardando?
The repeated musical pattern underneath the melody is called an ______.
What is an ostinato?
Multiple notes played together to support or accompany a melody.
What is harmony?
A section of a song that builds tension or anticipation before the chorus.
What is the pre-chorus?
A note that lasts half a beat in common time.
What is an eighth note?
This dynamic marking means medium loud.
What is mezzo forte?
This tempo marking means gradually speeding up.
What is accelerando?
The music immediately became soft, indicated by the marking ______.
What is subito piano?
When everyone performs the same melody at the same pitch or octave.
What is unison?
A contrasting section of a song that adds variety before returning to familiar material.
What is the bridge?
A rhythmic grouping where three notes are played in the time of two.
What is a triplet?
These dynamic markings indicate a gradual change in volume rather than a fixed level.
What are crescendo and decrescendo?
This symbol indicates a temporary pause that momentarily interrupts the tempo.
What is a fermata?
When the score is marked ______, the music returns to its original speed after slowing down.
What is a tempo?
These two musical elements depend on each other. The first refers to the speed of the music, and the second refers to the duration and pattern of sounds and silences.
What are tempo and rhythm?
This song section adds contrast and variety but is not essential for a song to function.
What is the bridge?
This term describes notes that occur on weak parts of the beat, often creating rhythmic interest, such as in syncopation.
What is the upbeat?
This dynamic marking indicates a sudden, forceful emphasis on a single note rather than an overall volume level.
What is sforzando?
From the Italian word meaning “stolen,” this expressive tempo practice allows performers to stretch and compress the beat without changing the overall tempo.
What is rubato?
After slowing down with a ______, the performer used ______ ("stolen time" in italian) for expressive flexibility before returning to the original speed when the score was marked ______.
What are ritardando, rubato, and a tempo?