Orchestra

1st step of scale

Tonic

3^rd step of the scale

Mediant (makes the key sound major or minor)

5^th step of the scale

Dominant

7^th step of the scale

Leading Tone (this leads into the tonic)

Top note

How many beats are in a measure

Bottom number

Identifies the type of note that gets the beat

dim e rall (diminuendo e rallentando)

To get softer and slow down

Ritardando (rit.)

To gradually slow down

a tempo

Return to the original tempo, usually after a slower section or ritardando/rallentando

// (cesura)

Pause

div or divisi

A direction to play a single note of a printed chord

D.C. al Coda

Return to the start and play until the coda sign 𝄌

D.S. al Coda

Return to the sign and play until the coda sign

Picardy third

A major chord at the end of a minor piece, made by raising the mediant

Tremolo

The rapid repetition of a note

Trill

A rapid alternation between two notes

My Favorite Things

Written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1959 musical “The Sound of Music”

Hanerot Halalu

Hebrew phrase meaning "These candles" referring to the Hanukkah menorah lights

Sleigh Ride

Written by Leroy Anderson during a heat wave in July 1946 while he was living in Woodbury, Connecticut.  It received its premiere on May 4, 1948 with Arthur Fiedler conducting the Boston Pops Orchestra at Symphony Hall in Boston