Symbols
To attack with force or to give extra emphasis.
What is an accent?
This is "walking speed." Miss Sommers thinks it sound like the name of one of Santa's reindeer..."On Dasher! On Prancer! On..."
What is andante?
Sometimes indicated as a tempo marking, this means to play majestically or with pride.
What is a maestoso?
Any fool can play loud! However, it takes a true musician to play very soft.
What is pianissimo?
In this time signature, there are six beats per measure with an 8th note receiving one beat.
What is 6/8 time?
Smooth and connected
What is legato?
Most often considered one of the slowest tempo markings. Meaning very broad. **Elephants are HUGE and can move very slowly...
What is largo?
This indicates where to take a breath. Careful though,...it's not a comma!
What is a breath mark?
This means the same thing as decrescendo. In music it's indicated as: "dim."
What is diminuendo?
This is a small note in front of a larger one. When played it sound like "Ta Da!"
What is a grace note?
An accent that is to be played as if it were separated or detached. If an accent and a staccato marking had a baby, they would create this! It looks like a roof top.
What is a marcato?
What is allegro?
This indicates the end of a solo or divisi section. It means to play together.
What is Tutti?
It's name stands for "in the middle." In the MIDDLE of the LOUD dynamic.
What is mezzo forte?
The accidental sign placed before a note that lowers the pitch one WHOLE STEP.
What is a double flat?
To smoothly connect 2 or more notes of different pitches without the use of the tongue.
What is a slur?
Slower than andante, but faster than largo...
What is adagio?
To play in a singing style.
What is cantabile?
If you want to scare the begeezus out of someone, you can use this type of dynamic/accent. It means to play forced. Like an accent on steroids.
What is sforzando?
Play the following measures the first time through a repeated section. Skip these measures the next time through.
What is a 1st ending?
What is staccato?
Very fast. In fact, it's the 2nd fastest tempo marking.
What is presto?
What is espressivo?
To gradually grow louder. Oddly enough, it looks like a "less than" sign used in math.
What is a crescendo?
In this time signature, there are 2 beats per measure with a half note receiving one beat.
What is cut time or 2/2 time?
Held & elongated. This is the opposite of staccato.
What is tenuto?
This tempo marking means to play at a medium speed.
What is moderato?
This means to hold a note until the conductor gives a cut off.
What is a fermata?
"Help! I'm dying! I'm 'dying away...'"
What is morendo?
Flutes are notorious for creating bird imitations. In order to accomplish this, they must play two notes back and forth as quickly as possible.
What is a trill?
To smoothly connect two or more notes of the same pitch without the use of the tongue.
What is a tie?
To be quick and lively!
What is vivace?
This means "the end."
What is fine?
This is what happens when you step on a lego. You shout VERY LOUDLY. Or maybe, you are in too much pain to speak.
What is fortissimo?
If you were going to waltz through the night with your significant other, you would be dancing to music in this time signature.
What is 3/4 time?
This adds half of the original value.
What is a dot?
The opposite of accelerando. **Hint** It's the most humorous word in music!
What is ritardando?
To return to the original tempo.
What is a tempo?
What is piano?
The characteristic sound of your instrument.
What is tone?
What is a time signature?
To play majestically or with pride.
What is maestoso?
To gradually get faster.
What is accelerando?
To play loudly.
What is forte?
What is enharmonics?
The word for how you begin a note.
What is articulation?
This machine or app tells you exactly how fast the beat is.
What is a metronome?
What is chromatic?
In music, this means to play loudly the first time, and softly the second time.
What is f-p?
A series of notes whole steps and half steps in ascending and descending fashion.
What is a scale?
This marks all accidentals in your music.
What is a key signature?
This is the rate of speed.
What is tempo?
To be in tune.
What is intonation?
fff
What is fortissississimo?
This is the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 5th, 3rd, & 1st notes of a scale.
This word encompasses sharps, flats, and naturals.
What are accidentals?
This means everyone plays together after a solo OR soli.
What is tutti?
A rest that is on top of a staff line.
What is a half rest?
ppp
What is pianissississimo?
Two notes next to each other, but skipping one.
What is a whole step?