Music Vocabulary & Bowings 6th - 8th

pizzicato

to pluck a string with your finger

arco

to play with the bow

solo

music or performance for a single performer

ensemble

a group of musicians performing together

crescendo

to increase volume over time

decrescendo

to decrease volume over time

scale

a sequence of notes in order

half step

the smallest interval in western music

whole step

two half steps

slur

playing two or more notes in one bow

dynamics

the volume at which you play

piano

soft

forte

loud

mezzo

medium/middle

allegro

fast tempo

andante

a walking pace (tempo)

ritardando

to gradually slow the tempo

tempo

the speed at which you play

ledger lines

lines added above or below the staff to extend the range of notes

tie

connects two or more of the same pitch

simile

to play in a similar style as before

cantabile

in a singing style

dolce

sweetly

rallentando

gradually slowing of tempo

fermata

to hold the indicated note or rest

adagio

slow tempo

fine

end of a piece

divisi

to divide a part (top/bottom)

accidental

indication to alter a pitch outside of the key signature

luftpause

a breath or lift

con

with

senza

without

sordino

mute

da capo

repeat from the beginning (head)

dal segno

repeat from the sign/mark

coda

special ending section of music

moderato

moderate tempo

al fine

to the end

syncopation

emphasizing the weak beat (off beat)

andantino

a little faster than andante

molto

very/much

piu

a little (more)

a tempo

return to original tempo

accelerando

increase tempo

G.P.

grand pause (general pause)

poco

little

sul

on or at (over)

trill

a rapid alteration between two notes

enharmonic

one note spelled two different ways

ponticello

near the bridge

tasto

near the fingerboard

maestoso

majestically

agitato

agitated style

espressivo

play with expression

subito

suddenly

presto

very fast tempo

tranquillo

tranquil/ calm

tonic

first note of scale/ home note or key

dominant

fifth note of a scale/ fifth scale degree

duet

music or a performance for/by two players

v.s.

turn the page at once (volti subito)

Staccato Bowing

short, separate bow strokes

Legato Bowing

long, smooth, connected bow strokes

Slurred Bowing

connecting two or more pitches in the same bow (smooth)

Tremolo Bowing

short, extremely rapid strokes on the same note (tremble)

Martelé Bowing

fast hammered bow strokes released suddenly

Detaché Bowing

broad full value bow stroke with very slight space between notes

Marcato Bowing

forcefully accented bow stroke with slight space

Spiccato Bowing

short fast bow stroke bouncing off the string

Louré Bowing

smooth slurred bow with a pulse or slight space