melody
horizontal aspect of music; musical line
harmony
vertical aspect of music; musical space
rhythm
musical time and repeated musical pattern
beat
basic unit of music; pulse
meter
musical pattern with stressed and unstressed beats
meter signature
numerical sign (3 4)
tempo
musical pace and speed; quite expressive (grave, largo, adagio, andante, moderato, allegro, vivace, presto)
dynamics
musical volume (pianissimo, piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte, fortissimo)
texture
musical fabric; how musical lines are woven together
monophonic
1 sound (Gregorian chant)
homophonic
same sound and time (most common)
polyphonic
many sounds (independent round)
form
musical structure and architecture divided into sections
timbre
color and quality of heard sound
motive
smallest musical statement within a longer musical phrase
strings
violin, viola, cello, bass, piano
woodwinds
piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, saxophone
double reed
oboe, english horn, bassoon, contrabassoon
brass
trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba, sousaphone
percussion
drums, timbani, bells, triangle, symbols, xylophone, celeste, piano
keyboard
piano forte, harpsichord, organ, clavichord
human voice
soprano (f), mezzo soprano (f), alto (f), contralto (f), tenor (m), baritone (m), bass (m)