RCM Level 3 Theory

allegretto

Fairly Fast (a little slower than allegro)

allegro

Fast

andante

moderately slow, at a walking pace

a tempo

return to original tempo

cantabile

in a singing style

common time

a symbol for 4 4 time

da capo, D.C.

from the beginning

dal segno, D.D.

from the sign

D.C. al Fine

repeat from the beginning and end at the Fine

dolce

sweet, gentle

double bar line

indicates the end of a piece

fermata

hold the note or rest longer than its written value

fine

the end

grazioso

graceful

legato

smoot

lento

slow

maestoso

majestic

marcato

marked or stressed

molto

much, very

ottava, 8va

the interval of an octave

poco

little

presto

very fast

rallentando, rall.

slowing down

ritardando, rit.

slowing down gradually

slur

play notes smoothly

staccato

detached

tempo

speed at which music is performed

tenuto

held, sustained

tie

hold notes for the combined value of the tied notes