Chorus Terms/Definitions

Chorus Class Terms for Test

Staff

5 lines and 4 spaces

Quarter Note

1 beat - N

Half Note

2 beats - N

Whole Note

4 beats - N

Quarter Rest

1 beat - R

Half Rest

2 beats - R

Whole Rest

4 beats - R

Dynamics

How loud or soft you sing or play.

Time Signature

Tells you how many beats are in a measure.

Unison

One voice.

Monophonic

One voice, One sound.

Polyphonic

Multiple voices, Multiple sounds.

Homophonic

One main melody.

Soprano

Highest register in the female voice.

Alto

Lowest register in the female voice.

Tenor

Highest register in the male voice.

Bass

Lowest register in the male voice.

Posture

How you sit or stand.

Measure

A set of number separated by a bar line that tells you how many beats.

Identity

How music expresses who are individually or as a community.

Timbre

Quality of sound

Folk Music

Traditional music that reflects the culture of a community.

Sacred Music

Religious or spiritual music.

Secular Music

None religious music

Communication

The way music conveys feelings ideas or messages.

Rhythm

The pattern of beats.

Harmony

The combination of different notes played or sung at the same time.

Form

The structure or organization of a piece of music.

Melody

A sequence of notes that form a musical idea.

Tempo

The speed of the beat.

Crescendo

Gradually gets louder.

Decrescendo

Gradually gets softer.

Mezzo Piano (MP)

Medium Soft

Piano

Soft

Pianissimo

Very Soft

Pianississimo

Very Very Soft

Forte

Loud

Mezzo Forte

Medium Loud

Fortissimo

Very Loud

Fortississimo

Extremely Loud

Fermata

To hold a note or rest longer than it’s normal value.

Repeat

: ll

Flat

♭- Raises the pitch raises the pitch by a half step

Sharp

♯ - Lowers the pitch by a half step.

Natural

♮- The original key

Accidentals

A symbol in music that changes the pitch of a note.