Choir Final Vocabulary

A cappella

without instrumental accompaniment

Arpeggio

broken up chord, notes played consecutively instead of all at the same time

Articulation

refers to the musical direction performance technique which affects the transition or continuity on a single note or between multiple notes or sounds

Balance

the adjustment of volume and timbre between voices so that, when required, each is clearly heard through the general texture

Beat

rhythmic pulse in a piece of music

Blend

the combination of voices in group singing so that individual performers are indistinguishable

Diction

a word generally used to mean 'enunciation', in the case of vocal music, of the words

Dynamics

The relative volume in the execution of a piece of music

Form

the structure of a particular piece, how its parts are put together to make the whole

Harmony

the relationship between notes when heard together

Interval

the distance between two notes

Intonation

pitch accuracy

Key Signature

an arrangement of sharps or flats, placed on the far left hand side of each line of the staff, indicating the notes in the music that are consistently altered

Measure

unit of music containing a number of beats as indicated by a time signature

Meter

the arrangement of rhythms in a repetitive pattern of strong and weak beats

Phrasing

to shape the notes of a line and thus give contrast to various elements within itr

Pitch

a particular frequency of tone

Rhythm

a pattern of durations of notes synchronized with the steady beat

Style

the way musical elements are presented

System

notation of a line of music including all the parts and voices involved, presented in a group of two or more staves which are joined together on the left hand side by a vertical bar and a brace

Tempo

the speed at which a composition is to be performed

Texture

the way in which individual musical lines interact within a musical work

Timbre

the distinguishable characteristics of a note

Time Signature

a symbol placed at the left side of the staff indicating the meter of the composition

Tone Quality

is the color or timbre of your singing voice