PIANISSIMO

very quiet

PIANO
quiet
MEZZOPIANO
moderately quiet

moderately loud
FORTE
LOUD

FORTISSIMO
VERY LOUD
DIMINUENDO
slowly getting more quiet

slowly getting more quiet

CRESCENDO
slowly getting louder
DYNAMICS
the volume of the music

the loud and quiet sounds in music

 TEMPO
the speed of the music

how fast or slow the steady beat of the music is

ACCELERAND
slowly getting faster

O
slowly getting slower
LARGO
a slower, broad tempo

ADAGIO
a slow and stately tempo
ANDANTE
a walking speed

MODERATO
moderately, a medium tempo
ALLEGRO
a fast, quick, and lively tempo

PRESTO
a very fast tempo
ARTICULATIO
N
the way the music is played on an instrument or sung
STACCATO
perform the note shorter

TENUTO
perform the note longer
 FERMATA
perform the note for a long time, until the conductor gives a cutoff

perform the notes smooth and connected

 ACCENT
perform the note with emphasis

GLISSANDO
perform by gliding from one pitch to another
FORM
the plan or pattern music follows

the musical map

 Call and Response
one singer, or a group of singers, sings first and another singer or group of singers answers
them – the response can be an echo of the call or something different

CANON/ROUND
everyone sings the same song but they start at different times
REFRAIN/CHO
a song part that is sung the same way every time it repeats

RUS
a song part where the melody stays the same when it repeats but
the lyrics change
 INTRODUCTION
the beginning of a song – the music before the main theme enters

RONDO
a musical form that follows the ABACA pattern
 AB FORM
music that has one section followed by a different section
same/different

ABA Form
music that has one section followed by a different section followed
by the same section – same/different/same
 CODA
a “tail” or short section added at the end of a piece of music

D.C. al FINE
An Italian musical term that tells the performer to go back to the beginning
of the song and repeat the music until they see the word “fine”
INTERLUDE/BRIDGE
music that occurs between a different section and the return of the
main theme – can also mean music that is played between acts in a play

THEME AND
The musical theme, or “main idea” is repeated in many different
forms and ways throughout the piece
a musical form where one phrase asks a question (usually does not end on do)

QUESTION/ANSWER
and another phrase answers (usually does end on do)
PARTS OF NOTATION
Musical notation is the way music is written down.

Note head w Beam

sd
Flag
a
Stem
q Double Beam

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ANACRUSIS 4$sd\sdqsdq
The upbeat – when music starts before the first down beat

STEADY BEAT
the steady pulse of the music – the heart beat of the music
the steady beat is constant – it is not the same as the rhythm
 CHORAL
VOCABULARY
WORDS
DICTION
pronouncing the lyrics clearly and correctly so your singing is understandable

SOPRANO
a female choir member with a higher vocal range
ALTO
a female choir member with a lower vocal range

TENOR
a male choir member with a higher vocal range
BASS
a male choir member with a lower vocal range

A CAPELLA
When a choir sings music without accompaniment
(just singing – no instruments)
CHOIR/CHORUS
an ensemble, or group, of singers

HEAD VOICE
The higher and lighter part of the voice –
the range in which children sing
 OTHER
IMPORTANT
WORDS
OSTINATO .sdsdqq>
a repeated pattern – it can be a rhythm or a melody

MINOR
the tonal center of the music is the pitch “la”
music in a minor key sounds sad
 TONE
COLOR/TIMBRE
The special sound that makes one instrument or voice sound
different from another

MAJOR
the tonal center of the music is the pitch “do”
music in a major key sounds happy
TREBLE CLEF
This clef is also known as the “G Clef”.
The treble clef is comprised of higher pitches.

BASS CLEF
This clef is also known as the “F Clef”.
The bass clef is comprised of lower pitches.
KEY SIGNATURE
The key signature shows what key, or tonal center, the music has.
Key signatures determine which pitch is “do”.

ACCIDENTAL
Accidentals are either sharps, flats, or naturals.
Accidentals are usually not in the key signature.
FLAT
A flat lowers a pitch by one half step.

SHARP
A sharp raises a pitch by one half step.
METRONOME
A machine that keeps a steady beat at different tempos, or speeds.

POCO A POCO
“little by little” – to change the music gradually in some way