Musical Terms

Tempo

Largo Very slow
Larghetto Not as slow as largo
Adagio Slow, leisurely
Lento Slow
Moderato Moderate
Andante Moving with a moderate tempo
Andantino Faster than andante
Allegretto A little slower than allegro
Allegro Moderately fast
Vivace Lively, animated, brisk
Presto Fast, rapid
Prestissimo Very rapidly

Dynamics

Pianissimo Very soft
Piano Soft
Mezzo piano Moderately soft
Mezzo forte Moderately loud
Forte Loud
Fortissimo Very loud
Crescendo Increasing in loudness
Decrescendo decreasing in loudness
Diminuendo diminishing in loudness
Rinforzando sudden increase in loudness
Sforzando play the note with sudden emphasis

Style

Amoroso tender and affectionate
Animato animated; lively
Calando gradually softer and slower
Cantabile in a singing style
Con Anima with life and animation
Con Brio with vigor and spirit
Con Fuoco with energy or passion
Deciso decisively
Detache detached
Dolce sweetly
Doloroso sorrowfully
Espressivo expressively
Furioso furious
Giocoso humorous
Grandioso with grandeur
Grazioso gracefully
Legato smooth and connected
Leggiero lightly
Maestoso majestically
Marcato marked and stressed
Marzial in the style of a march
Morendo dying away
Perdendosi dying away
Pesante heavy
Religioso religious, solemn
Rubato taken out of tempo
Semplice simple
Sempre always, continuously
Sostenuto sustained
Soto voce in an undertone
Staccato short and detached
Tenuto sustained, held for full value
Tranquillo tranquil

Articulation

Staccato a dot placed above or below a note means to play it short
Slur a curved line either above or below notes that connects two different pitches that are to be played smoothly
Tie a curved line either above or below two of the same pitches indicating not to attack the second note
Tenuto a line above or below the note means to play the full value of the note
Accent an accent placed above or below the note means to emphasize the note
Breath Mark an apostrophe placed above the staff means to take a breath

Other Terms

Assai very
Con with
L'istesso same
Meno less
Mosso moved, agitated
Non troppo not too much
Piu mosso faster
Poco little
Poco a poco little by little
Sforzando suddenly accented (forced)
Simile in the same manner
Subito suddenly

Can't find the word you're looking for?
Try
HERE


 
Main - 6th Grade Music - Chorus - Band - Instrumental Grading Policy - Home Practice - Practice Videos
Practice Tips - In-School Lessons - After School Rehearsals - Music Tech - Awards - About Mr. Lykins