Tempo
This means exceptionally fast, but take out the "r" and you get your teacher's favorite pasta topping.
What is Presto?
This dynamic level translates to "medium loud," but really it's just normal speaking volume.
What is Mezzo Forte?
This means to play the note a bit louder. (>)
What is an Accent?
This is the volume of the music. Some examples include Forte, Pianissimo, and Mezzo Forte.
What are Dynamics?
This type of note gets one beat in common time.
What is a Quarter Note?
This means very slow, like a rather large elephant when you say "go"
What is Largo?
Labeled as ff, this is the loudest dynamic level we discussed.
What is Fortissimo?
This means to play the note very short and detached. (.)
What is Staccato?
This is the speed of the beat in music, not the speed of the rhythm...
What is Tempo?
This time signature has four quarter notes in each measure, and is also sometimes called "common time" because of how often it's used.
What is 4/4 Time?
This means at a walking pace, like the ants invading your picnic.
What is Andante?
This is the quietest dynamic level we discussed, defined as "very quiet".
What is Pianissimo?
This means to hold the note for longer than its value. The conductor will usually cue the next beat after. (š)
What is a Fermata?
This is the symbol for Tenuto, the articulation mark that means to hold and lean into the note for its full rhythmic value.
What is a line? (-)
This is the clef used by higher voices and instruments, such as flutes and clarinets, and is also sometimes called the "G" clef.
What is the Treble Clef?
This is the rather fast tempo you hear from a marching band at a parade. Most commonly 120 bpm.
What is Allegro?
This dynamic level means "quiet," it is also how the grandest instrument got its name.
What is Piano?
This means to play the note a lot louder and with great force. It looks like a dynamic marking with the letters sfz.
What is Sforzando?
These are symbols in music that tell the performer how the note is played. Some examples include Accent, Staccato, and Marcato.
What are Articulations?
This C is at the center of the piano and the center of the grand staff. It's the only note that has a special name.
What is Middle C?
This means slow with expression, or emotion, like a sad piece played by an orchestra.
What is Adagio?
This is the word for to gradually get quieter and is symbolized by an extended greater than sign typically underneath the staff.
What is Decrescendo or Diminuendo?
This can either be a tie if it's two of the same note, or a slur if it's two different notes. It means to continue playing without rearticulating.
What is Legato?
This is the unspoken rule the goes with every dynamic marking.
What is "With a good sound"?
This special type of barline signifies the end of a section of music. Typically followed by a key and/or tempo change.
What is a Double Barline?