Grave
Very slow, ponderous and solemn
Largo
Slow and Broad
Larghetto
Slowly
Adagio
Slowly and leisurely
Lento
Slowly
Andante
Moderately slow and flowing
Andantino
Slightly faster than Andante
Moderato
Moderately
Allegretto
Moderately fast
Allegro
Fast and lively
Vivace
Very fast, vivaciously
Presto
Extremely fast
pp—Pianissimo
Very soft
p—piano
Soft
Mp—mezzo piano
Moderately soft
mf—mezzo forte
Moderately loud
f—forte
Loud
ff—fortissimo
Very loud
sfz—sforzando
played with sudden force
fp—Forte-piano
Loud, then immediately soft
Cresendo
Gradually louder
Diminuendo
Gradually softer
Decrescendo
Gradually softer
Morendo
Dying away
Perdendosi
Dying away in sound and speed
<
Gradually louder
>
Gradually Softer
Ritardando
Gradually slower and slower
Rallentando
Gradually slower
Accelerando
Gradually faster
Ritenuto
Hold back at a slower speed
A tempo
Used following one of the other markings to “resume the original tempo”
Tempo primo
Tempo same as the beginning
Staccato .
Short
Tenuto _
Sustanined, broad
Slur
Play notes connected notes without rearticulating
Fermata
(.
Hold, give extra time
%
Repeat preceding measure
Accent >
Play with force
D. C.
Da Capo
Go back to beginning
D. S.
Dal Segno
Go back to sign (Not Coda)
Coda
Skip to coda
X
Double sharp
bb
Double flat
8va
Ottava
Play an octave higher than written
Ad Libitum
ad lib.
At liberty
Agitato
Agitated
Take a break
Break time up!
Alla Marcia
In a march style
Animato
More animated
Appassionato
With passion
Bravura
With boldness and spirit
Brillante
Brilliant and sparkling
Cantabile
In a Singing style
Dolce
Sweetly
Espressivo
Expressively
Giocoso
Playfully, gaily
Grandioso
With grandeur
Grazioso
Gracefully, elegantly
Legato
Smooth and connected
Maestoso
Majestic, dignified
Marcato
Marked with emphasis
pomposo
Pompously and dignified
Scberzando
Playfully, jestingly
Sostenuto
Sustained
Tranquillo
Quietly
Accidentals
Sharps, flats and naturals not in the key signature
Arpeggio
notes of a chord played seperately
Cadenza
A solo passage played with freedom
Divisi
Divided parts
Embouchure
Mouth muscles used in controlling the tone of a wind instrument
Enharmonic
Same in pitch but diffrent notation
Fine
Finish, the end
L’istesso
The same
Loco
As written
Meno
Less
Molto
Very, much
Mosso
More
Opus
A musical work
Poco a poco
Little by little
Quasi
In the style of
Segue
Proceed in the same style
Senza
Without
Simile
Play in a similar manner
Subito
Suddenly, without pause
Syncopation
When the accent falls on the the weak beats
Tacet
Be silent, don’t play
Tutti
All together
Break Time
Break Time Over