Final Exam Vocabulary for Music Theory

Bass Clef

The designated clef for cello and bass

Eighth Note

A note which is equal to half a beat of sound

Staccato

Notes marked with a dot above or below the note and indicates to play

Scale

A sequence of notes in ascending or descending order

Andante

A slower walking tempo

Arco

This term instructs the musician to play with the bow on the string

Sharp

Raises the sound of a note a half step and remains in effect for the entire measure

Time Signature

Tells us how many beats are in each measure, and what kind of note gets one beat

Treble Clef

Designated clef for the violin

Anacrusis

A note that appears before the first full measure

Pizzicato

This term instructs the musician to pluck the strings

Up Bow

Move your bow to the left and toward your body

Solo

A composition written for one player with piano accompaniment

Down Bow

Move your bow to the right and away from your body

Arpeggio

The proper name for playing a chord broken into separate pitches

Duet

A composition featuring two different parts, played together

Dynamics

These markings tell us at what volume to play

Whole Note

A note which is equal to four beats of sound

Whole Rest

A rest which is equal to four beats of silence

Canon/Round

When a song's sections start playing one after the other to create harmony

Tempo

Usually written above the staff in Italian, it indicates the speed of the music

Theme and Variations

A musical form featuring a melody followed by variations of itself

Bar Lines

Vertical lines that divide the music staff into measures

Alto Clef

The designated clef for viola

Retake

Lifting the bow off the strings and returning it to the starting point

Dotted Half Note

A note which is equal to three beats of sound

Common Time

Same as the 4/4 time signature

Hooked Bowing

Two or more notes played by pulling the bow in the same direction with a stop between each note

Improvisation

The art of creating your own music freely as you play

Natural

Cancels a sharp or flat and remains in effect for the entire measure

Piano

A dynamic marking which means 'softly'

Chromatic Scale

A sequence of notes located a half step from each other

Tie

A curved line that connects notes of the same pitch to be held for the sum of the two rhythms

Double Bar Line

This marking indicates the end of a piece of music

Quarter Rest

A rest which is equal to one beat of silence

Key Signature

Tells us what notes to play with sharps and flats throughout the entire piece

Harmony

Two or more pitches sounding at the same time

Repeat Signs

The section of music enclosed by these signs is played again

Slur

A curved line that connects two or more different pitches

Half Step

The smallest distance between two notes

Mezzo Forte

A dynamic marking which means moderately loud

Allegro

Fast Tempo

Ledger Lines

Extend the music staff higher or lower

ORCHESTRA

How do you spell your ensemble's name?