ACCELERANDO
The music gets gradually faster.
ACCENT
Means that a note is given more emphasis or stress than others.
ADAGIO
To be performed slowly and in a relaxed manner (just think slow)
ALLEGRO
Fast
ALLEGRETTO
Quite fast, not as fast as allegro
ANDANTE
Quite slow. It literally means walking speed.
ARCO
A direction for string players. It means to play normally with the bow.
ARPEGGIO
When the notes of a chord are played one after the other instead of all at once. Like finger style on a guitar. (See also BROKEN CHORD)
BROKEN CHORD
When the notes of a chord are played one after the other instead of all at once. Same as arpeggio.
CRESCENDO
The music gets gradually louder.
COUNTERMELODY
Another tune which is played along with the main tune.
DIMINUENDO
The music gets gradually quieter.
DISCORD
clashing chord
DISSONANT/DISSONANCE
When discords and clashing notes are used.
DRONE
A note or notes that carry on throughout the music, like bagpipes or in Indian music.
DYNAMICS
The louds and quiets in the music and how they change.
GLISSANDO
Sliding from one note to another like a slide on a guitar with a bottleneck. Trombones and violins etc do this really well.
IMITATION
When one instrument or voice simply copies what another has already done. This can be higher or lower.
LARGO
Slow and dignified tempo (speed).
NOTE CLUSTER
Lots of notes that are really close together played at the same time (can sound quite eery and uncomfortable)
OSTINATO
A short pattern of notes that is repeated over and over. Called a RIFF in rock.
PEDAL
A long, LOW note that carries on under the music. It could also be a series of repeated notes but it must be the same note and it must be LOW. If the same thing happens with a high note it is called an INVERTED PEDAL.
PIZZICATO
A direction to string players to pluck the strings instead of playing ARCO with the bow.
PRESTO
Fast tempo
RITARDANDO
Music gets gradually slower.
SEQUENCE
When a pattern of notes is played or sung again but slightly higher or lower, usually by the same instrument or voice
SFORZANDO
When a bit suddenly stands out in the music, is suddenly loud or accented.
STACCATO
When notes are played short and detached.
SYNCOPATION
When the music lies against the beat instead of with it. Most popular music is syncopated, most marches and waltzes, for example, aren?t.
TEMPO
How fast or slow the music is and how this might change.
TRILL
Moving quickly between a note and the one above it. This can happen in the melody on long notes.
VIVACE
Lively and quick tempo
TERNARY FORM
Music with a ABA structure
BINARY FORM
Music with a AB structure
RONDO FORM
Music with a ABACAD form
THEME AND VARIATION
Music that has lots of different versions of the same tune
PERFECT CADENCE
When music goes from the dominant to the tonic chord- sounds finsished and complete
IMPERFECT CADENCE
When the music goes from the tonic chord to the dominant- sounds unfinished and like it needs to continue
STROPHIC FORM
When all verses are sung to the same music