PRIMER + ONE + TWO Vocabulary

Crescendo

Gradually increase the volume.

Diminuendo

Gradually decrease the volume.

Accent

Emphasize a note by playing it louder or with more force.

FF (Fortissimo)

A dynamic marking for very loudly

pp (Pianissimo)

A dynamic marking for very softly.

Eighth Note

This note receives half of the quarter note’s value. It can be worth half a beat or one full beat depending on the time signature.

Dotted Quarter Note

This note receives the same value as three eighth notes. It is longer than a quarter note but shorter than a half note.

Eighth Rest

This rest receives half a quarter rest’s value. It can be worth half a beat or one full beat depending on the time signature.

Triad

A chord made up of three notes, typically a root, third, and fifth.

Arpeggio

A “harplike” chord, played broken rather than blocked.

Transpose

Change the key of a piece of music up or down.

D.C. al Fine

Go back to the beginning of the piece (Da Capo) and continue until the "Fine" marking.

8va

Play an octave higher or lower than written.

Tempo

The speed at which music is played.

A Tempo

Italian marking to return to the original tempo.

Andante

Walking pace speed

Moderato

Moderate speed

Allegro

Fast and lively speed

Treble Clef

A symbol on the staff to indicate higher pitches, usually played with RH

Bass Clef

A symbol on the staff to indicate lower pitches, usually played with LH

Forte

A dynamic marking for loud

Piano

A dynamic marking for soft

Staccato

Play short and detached

Legato

Play smoothly and connected

Interval

The distance between two pitches

Tie

A curved line that connects notes with the same pitch, meaning to hold for the combined length

Slur

A curved line that connects notes with different pitches, meaning to play legato

Step

Move from one note to another by using the next letter up or down

Skip

Move from one note to another by skipping one letter name in between

Beat

The basic unit of rhythm.

Quarter Note

This note receives one beat in 4/4 time

Half Note

This note receives two beats in 4/4 time

Dotted Half Note

This note receives three beats in 4/4 time

Whole Note

This note receives four beats in 4/4 time

Time Signature

Two numbers at the beginning of a piece to show how many beats are in each measure and what kind of note value receives one beat

Top Number

This number of the time signature signifies how many beats are in each measure

Bottom Number

This number of the time signature signifies what kind of note value receives one beat

Measure

A section of music which is divided by bar lines into a set number of beats.

Bar Line

A vertical line on the staff that divides music into measures.

Double Bar

Two vertical lines on the staff marking the end of the piece

Repeat Sign

A symbol indicating to repeat a section of music

Mezzo Piano

A dynamic marking for moderately soft

Mezzo Forte

A dynamic marking for moderately loud

Pair of Eighth Notes

These two notes connected by a beam equal one full beat in 4/4 time

Quarter Rest

This rest receives one beat of silence in 4/4 time

Half Rest

This rest receives two beats of silence in 4/4 time

Whole Rest

This rest receives three or four beats of silence in 3/4 or 4/4 time and fills a whole measure

Fermata

Hold the note longer than its usual duration

Ritardando

Slow down gradually

Flat

This symbol lowers the pitch by a half step

Sharp

This symbol raises the pitch by a half step

Natural

This symbol cancels a previous sharp or flat

Key Signature

These sharps or flats at the beginning show what will be used in the piece

Half Step

The smallest interval on the keyboard

Whole Step

The interval of two half steps added together