Music Fundamentals
The set of five lines and four spaces is where music is written.
What is the "staff"?
This term describes how soft or loud a piece of music is.
What are "dynamics"?
This musical symbol raises a note by a half step
What is a "sharp"?
This term describes the type of attack used to play a note
What is "articulation"?
Music that comes before the first full measure of a piece is known by this term
What is an "anacrusis" (or "pick-up")?
This vertical line divides the staff into measures
What is a "bar line"?
When music is played softly, this Italian term is used
What is "piano"?
This musical symbol lowers a note by a half step
What is a "flat"?
When you emphasize a note or start it with more "front," you are using this technique
What is an "accent"?
This type of composition begins with a main melody and continues with different versions of that melody.
What is "theme and variations"?
These short horizontal lines are used for notes that are too high or too low to fit on the staff.
What are "ledger lines"?
This tempo marking indicates a "walking tempo"
What is "andante"?
This type of scale is made up of 12 ascending or descending half steps
What is a "chromatic scale"?
This term refers to performing successive musical notes of different pitch in a smooth or connected manner.
What is a "slur"?
When you see "D.C. al Fine," it means to go back to the beginning of the piece and play until this marker.
What is 'fine'? (pronounced "FEE-NAY")
The first 7 letters of the alphabet. Just the note names used in music.
What is the "musical alphabet"?
A gradual increase in the volume of sound is indicated by this term.
What is "crescendo"?
In a major scale, the pattern of whole and half steps follows this sequence.
What is "WWHWWWH" (or "whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half")
For wind or woodwind instruments, this term describes the position and use of the lips, tongue, and teeth in producing a musical tone.
What is "embouchure"?
This type of composition has three sections, often in an ABA pattern
What is "ternary form"?
This symbol, often used for the bass clef, places the F below middle C on the 4th line of the staff
What is the "F clef"?
This term means to gradually slow the tempo
What is ritardando (or rit.)? (or rallentando)
This is the smallest interval in Western music.
What is a "half step"?
This technique involves splitting music into two parts.
What is "divisi" (or div)?
This practice involves making up music on the spot
What is "improvisation"?