Musical Vocabulary

Tempos

100

This is the Italian word for "fast or lively." 

What is Allegro? 

200

This is the Italian word for "moderately". 

What is Moderato? 

300

This is the Italian word for "a walking pace" 

What is Andante? 

400

This is the Italian word for "Slowly". 

What is Adagio

500

This is the Italian word for serious. It indicates a very slow tempo, around quarter=40. 

What is Grave? 

Potpourri

100

The name of the pedal that sustains notes and lifts the dampers so that notes may ring for longer periods of time. 

What is the damper pedal? 

200

This word means smooth and connected. 

What is legato? 

300

This Italian word means "majestically". 

What is Maestoso? 

400

The name of this pedal means "one string". It makes things softer and changes the timbre. 

What is una corda or soft pedal? 

500

This is the name of the pedal that will hold things out while not holding others. 

What is the Sostenuto pedal? 

Modifiers

100

This is Italian for "little by little" 

What is poco a poco? 

200

This is the Italian word for "much". 

What is Molto? 

300

This is the Italian suffix to indicate something is small such as Allegr____ or Adagi____. 

What is etto? 

400

This suffix indicates that something should be extra or "very _____". Ex: Fort____, Pian_____

What is issimo? 

500

This is the Italian word for "like". Such as in the title for the Moonlight Sonata: Sonata Una _____ Fantasia. 

What is Quasi? 

Dynamics

100

This is the Italian word for strong or loud. 

What is Forte? 

200

This Italian word means medium. It often accompanies piano or forte. 

What is mezzo? 

300

This Italian words mean gradually get louder

What is Crescendo? 

400

This Italian word means very very soft. Be sure to say the correct number of "issi's" though. 

What is pianississimo? 

500

This Italian word is a synonym for decrescendo. 

What is diminuendo? 

More Modifiers

100

This Italian word means gradually slowing down. 

What is Ritardando or Rallentando? 

200

This Italian word means speeding up. 

What is Accelerando? 

300

This tempo means extremely fast. Pretty much as fast as you can go. 

What is Prestissimo? 

400

This phrase means go back to the beginning tempo. 

What is Tempo I or Tempo Primo? 

500

Meaning "less", this word is the opposite of Piu. 

What is meno?