Percussion Musician Terms, Symbols and Concepts

Dynamics

All things in music having to do with volume in music

Accent - Played a little louder than a regular note

Loud, then immediately soft (not always followed by a crescendo!)

Forte-piano

Staccato - play short (i.e., cymbal choke, dampen/mute a drum)

Crescendo symbol - Gradually increase volume

Decrescendo symbol - Gradually decrease volume

Play very soft

pianissimo

Play soft

piano

Play medium soft

mezzo-piano

Play medium loud

mezzo-forte

Play loud

forte

Play very loud

fortissimo

Gradually get softer

diminuendo

Tempo

How fast or slow the music is; anything having to do with speed or changing speed in the music

Gradually get faster

accelerando

Gradually get slower

ritardando

Rhythm and Time

Everything having to do with the length of notes and rests, and how to count beats and measures

A time signature that has 4 beats in each measure, quarter note gets the beat

A time signature that has 2 beats in each measure, quarter note gets the beat

A time signature that has 3 beats in each measure, quarter note gets the beat

Hold the note out (and watch the conductor!)

fermata

A regular note that lasts for 4 beats

whole note

A regular note that lasts for 3 beats

dotted half note

A regular note that lasts for 2 beats

half note

A regular note that lasts for 1 1/2 (1.5) beats

dotted quarter note

A regular note that lasts for 1 beat

quarter note

A regular note that lasts for 1/2 a beat

eighth note

Be silent for 4 beats

whole rest

Be silent for 2 beats

half rest

Be silent for 1 beat

quarter rest

Be silent for 1/2 a beat

eighth rest

Repeat what you played in the previous measure

Key Signature

Tells you which letter notes are "automatically" sharp, flat and natural. Essentially tells you which version of a note you should hit unless you see a sharp/flat/natural in front of a note.

Tells us to play the "flat" version of a given letter note

Tells us to play the "sharp" version of a given letter note

Tells us to play the "normal/natural" version of a given letter note

Tone quality

The quality of the sound one produces, as a result of proper striking zone, mallet/stick choice, and stick/mallet technique

Rebound stroke

A full stroke where the stick/mallet returns to the up position. Use wrist and fingers to achieve.

A rolled note that lasts for 2 beats

A rolled note that lasts for 4 beats

A rolled note that lasts for 1 beat

A rolled note that lasts for 3 beats

Multi-measure rest (tells you to count rest for multiple measures)

Every Good Boy Does Fine

How to remember the notes on the treble clef lines

"FACE"

How to remember the notes on the treble clef spaces

The note C

Lower bar to the left of any group of two upper bars on a mallet instrument

The note F

Lower bar to the left of any group of three upper bars on a mallet instrument

Balance awareness

Knowing when to play out or be a little quieter based on whether you have the melody or a background part