SCBDA Clinic Terms

a poco

a little; gradually

a tempo

in time; generally implies a return to the original rate of speed

accelerando

gradually faster

adagietto

slow, but not as slow as adagio

adagio

very slow

agitato

agitated; rapid

al fine

to the finish

alla

in the style of

allargando

gradually slower and broader

allegretto

light and moderately quick, but not as fast as allegro

allegro

rapid; lively

animato

animated; spirited

appassionato

intensely; passionately; with deep feeling

brilliante

brilliantly

cantabile

in a singing style

chromatic

by semi-tones

coda

the final added measures of a musical composition

con anima

with animation; spirit

con brio

with spirit; brilliantly

con forza

with force

con grazia

with grace

con spirito

with spirit; brilliance

crescendo

gradually louder

da capo

from the beginning

dal segno

from the sign

decrescendo

gradually softer

diminuendo

gradually softer

dolce

sweetly

energico

energetically

fermata

a hold or pause

fortissimo

very loud

sforzando

forcefully accented

furioso

furiously

larghetto

slow, but not as slow as largo

largo

very slow

legato

smooth and connected

lento

very slow

maestoso

majestically

marcato

marked; with emphasis

marziale

martial

meno

less

mezzo

medium; half

moderato

moderately

molto

very

mosso

motion; movement

non troppo

not too much

pianissimo

very softly

piano

softly

poco

a little

poco a poco

little by little

prestissimo

very fast; more so than presto

presto

very fast

grazioso

gracefully

grave

very slow or solemn

grandioso

grand or noble style

forte

loud

etude

a study

andante

moderately slow, but moving

andantino

generally a little quicker than andante

rallentando

gradually slowerr

ritardando

gradually slower

ritenuto

a steady pace, but slower than the preceding tempo

rubato

temporary irregularity of time, lengthening some notes at the expense of others

segno

the sign

sempre

always; continually

simile

the same

soli

more than one performer in unison

solo

a composition or passage for one performer

sostenuto

sustained

staccato

separated, detached style

subito

suddenly

tacet

silent

tempo

time; speed

tenuto

sustain full value

vivace

vivacious; lively

l’istesso

the same