1st and 2nd endings
Play through the piece to the repeat sign at the end of the first ending, then go back to the beginning and take the second ending.
8th note
Half beat in common time.
A tempo
Return to the original tempo.
Accelerando
Gradually faster.
Accidentals
Sharps, flats, or naturals NOT found in the key signature.
Adagio
Very slow.
Allegretto
Lively, but not too fast.
Allegro
Fast.
Andante
Medium slow, (walking tempo).
Andantino
Slightly faster than andante (slow).
Articulation
The style the notes are played.
Caesura (cut off)
To interrupt or stop suddenly.
Cantabile
In a singing style.
Chromatic scale
A scale ascending or descending in half steps.
Coda
A section added to a composition to form a conclusion or ending. The coda sign (target thingy) is used to indicate where the coda begins.
Common time
Another name for 4/4 time signature.
Con espressione
With expression.
Con moto
With motion.
Con spirito
With spirit.
Crescendo
Gradually louder.
Cut time
2/2 time.
Dal Segno (D.S.)
(Da Sign) Repeat from the sign and end at FINE.
Decrescendo
Gradually softer.
Dolce
Sweetly, softly.
Duet
Two people play.
Dynamics
How loud or soft the music is played.
Enharmonic tones
Notes that sound the same but are spelled differently.
Fermata
Means to hold for an extended period of time.
Forte (F)
Loud.
Fortepiano (FP)
Loud followed by immediately soft.
Fortissimo (FF)
Very loud.
Grave
Slow and solemn.
Half step
The smallest interval between two tones in western music.
Harmony
More than one pitch heard at the same time.
Interval
The distance between two pitches.
Key signature
One or more flats/sharps that appear at the beginning of the piece.
Legato
Smooth and connected.
Lento
Very slow.
Maestoso
Majestic, stately, grand.
Marcato
Marked, accented.
Measure repeat sign (%)
Play the preceding measure again.
Mezzo forte (MF)
Medium loud.
Mezzo piano (MP)
Medium soft.
Moderato
Moderately.
Molto
Much, very.
Multi-measure rest
When multiple measures of rest are represented by a bar with the number of measures on top.
Pianissimo (PP)
Very soft.
Piano (P)
Soft.
Presto
Very fast.
Quarter note/rest
One beat in common time.