Choir Vocab

A Capella

Singing without instrumental accompaniment

Accompaniment

Musical parts that support the main melody, often played on instruments

Articulation

The way consonants and vowels are pronounced in singing

Balance

Adjusting the volume of different voice parts to achieve a harmonious mix

Blend

The seamless integration of voices to create a unified sound

Breath Control

Managing breath while singing for better phrasing and control

Choir

A group of singers organized to perform music together, often in parts, while usually led by a conductor

Choral Arrangement

The specific distribution of vocal parts in a piece of music

Chorus

The recurring section of a song with the same lyrics and melody

Conductor

The person who leads and directs the choir, guiding the singers with gestures and cues

Crescendo

Gradually getting louder

Decrescendo

Gradually getting softer

Dynamics

The loudness or softness of the music

Ensemble

A group of musicians or singers who perform together, typically in a coordinated manner

Harmony

The combination of different notes played or sung simultaneously to create a pleasing sound

Intonation

Singing in tune, accurately hitting the correct pitches

Key Signature

The sharps or flats at the beginning of a piece that determine the key of the music

Lyrics

The words of a song

Melody

The main sequence of musical notes that create a memorable tune

Note

A musical symbol that represents a specific pitch and duration

Performance Etiquette

The respectful behavior expected during rehearsals and performances

Phrase

A self-contained segment of melody, rhythm, and harmony that conveys a complete musical thought or idea

Phrasing

The method by which a musician shapes a sequence of notes in a passage of music to allow expression

Pitch

The highness or lowness of a musical note

Pronunciation

Correctly enunciating words and sounds while singing

Rehearsal

Practice sessions to learn and refine songs

Rhythm

The pattern of beats and durations in music

Sheet music

Written musical notation that choir members read

Sight-singing

Singing music at first sight without prior rehearsal

Solfege

A system for teaching sight-singing using syllables like do re mi

Tempo

The speed of music

Tune

A melody or a specific sequence of musical notes

Verse

A section of a song with different lyrics each time it's sung

Vibrato

A slight variation in pitch that adds warmth and depth to the voice

Vocal Warm-up

Exercises and scales performed before singing to prepare the voice