A Tempo or Tempo 1
Return to the original tempo.
Accelerando (accel.)
Gradually faster.
Accent (>)
A symbol used to indicate an emphasis on one or more notes.
Sharp

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Raises the pitch a half step.
Flat

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Lowers the pitch a half step.
Natural

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Cancels either a sharp or flat.
Adagio
Very slow.
Allegretto
Lively, but not too fast.
Allegro
Fast.
Andante
Medium slow.
Breath Mark

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Place to take a breath.
Cantabile
In a singing style.
Coda

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A section added to a composition to form a conclusion or ending. Sign used to indicates where the coda begins.
Common Time

C

Another name for 4/4 time signature.
Con Espressione (Con Espr.)
With expression.
Con Moto
With motion; animated.
Cut Time

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2/2; Notes and rests are half the value of those found in 4/4.
Da Capo (D.C.)
A sign used to indicate that the composition is to be repeated from the beginning.
D.C. al Fine
Repeat from the beginning and end at the word Fine.
Dal Segna (D.S.)

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Repeat from the sign.
D.S. al Fine
Repeat from the sign and end at the word Fine.
Diminuendo
Gradually softer.
Dotted Half Note
3 beats
Dotted Quarter Note
1.5 beats
Duet
A composition for two performers of equal importance.
Dynamics
Words, abbreviated words, or signs that indicate a degree of volume.
Eighth Note or Eighth Rest
1/2 beat.
Enharmonic tones
Notes that sound the same but are spelled with different names.
Fermata or Hold

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When placed over a note, the note may be held for any number of beats.
Fine
An Italian word meaning the end or the close.
Forte (f)
Loud.
Fortissimo (ff)
Very loud.
Half Note
2 beats.
Harmony
A combination of tones that blend when sounded together.
Legato
Notes are played smoothly and are connected.
Lento
Very slow.
Maestoso
Magestic, stately, grand.
Major
A musical chord or scale sounding happy.
Measure Repeat Sign (`/.)
Play the preceding measure again.
Mezzo Forte (mf)
Medium loud.
Mezzo Piano (mp)
Medium soft.
Minor
Solemn and sad in sound.
Moderato
Moderately.
Pianissimo (pp)
Very soft.
Piano (p)
Soft.
Pick-up Notes
Notes that are a part of an imcomplete measure at the beginning of a piece.
Poco a Poco
Little by little.
Presto
Very fast.
Quarter Note
1 beat.
Rallentando (rall.)
Gradually slower and broader.
Rehearsal Marks
Numbers or letters used to identify places to begin within a composition.
Repeat Sign

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Repeat from the beginning of the piece or from the other reversed sign.
Ritard (rit.)
Gradually slower.
Sforzando (sfz)
A strong accent on a single note or chord.
Sixteenth Note
1/4 beats.
Slur

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A curved line that connects two or more notes of a different pitch.
Sostenuto
Sustained.
Staccato (stacc.)
Notes are played short and detached.
Syncopation
A rhythmic figure that places the emphasis on the weak beat(s).
Tempo
Rate of speed.
Tenuto (ten.)
A slight rhythmic stress.
Tie

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A curved line that connects two or more notes of the same pitch.
Triplets
Groups of three eighth notes to be played in one beat.
Whole Note
4 beats.
Accidentals
Sign for raising or lowering the pitch of a note or for cancelling a previously applied sign.