Music Theory #5- 10MSS 

Rests

  • A semibreve rest is on the 4th space from the bottom of a stave and hangs on the 4th line
  • A minim rest is also on the 4th space from the bottom but is top of the 3rd line.
  • If many rest are needed, you would have to start with the rest that has the least counts.

Dynamic Terms and Signs

Dynamics are indications of how loud or soft the music should be played

  • f = forte = loud
  • p = piano = soft
  • m = mezzo = moderately
  • ff = fortissimo = very loud

Accents are > placed underneath notes. They mean to play these notes more strongly than the others.

Italian Terms for the Speed of Music

  • Presto - Very fast
  • Allegro - Fast and lively
  • Andante - At an easy walking pace
  • Moderato - At a moderate speed
  • Adagio - Slowly

Terms for changing tempos

  • Accelerando - Gradually becoming faster
  • Rallentando - Gradually becoming slower
  • Ritardando - Gradually becoming slower
  • Ritenuto - Immediately slower, held back
  • A Tempo - Return to former speed

Other Terms

  • Allegretto - moderately fast (usually considered to be faster than andante, and slower than allegro)
  • Lento - very slow (slower than adagio)
  • Cantabile - In singing style
  • Poco - A little

Used before other terms, for example:

  • Poco Crescendo - Get a little louder
  • Poco a Poco - Little by little
  • Fermata = Pause Fermata