SCBDA Clinic Band Terms

a poco a little; gradually

a tempo in time; generally implies a return to the original rate of speed

accelerando gradually faster

adagietto slow, but not as slow as adagio

adagio very slow

agitato agitated; rapid

al fine to the finish

alla in the style of

allargando gradually slower and broader

allegretto light and moderately quick, but not as fast as allegro

allegro rapid; lively

andante moderately slow, but moving

andantino generally a little quicker than andante

animato animated; spirited

appasionato intensely; passionately; with deep feeling

brilliante brilliantly

cantabile in a singing style

chromatic by semi-tones

coda the final added measures of a musical composition

con anima with animation; spirit

con brio with spirit; brilliantly

con forza with force

con grazia with grace

con spirito with spirit; brilliance

cresendo gradually louder

da capo from the beginning

dal segno from the sign

decrescendo gradually softer

diminuendo gradually softer

dolce sweetly

energico energetically

etude a study

fermata a hold or pause

forte loud

fortissimo very loud

furioso furiously

grandioso grand or noble style

grave very slow or solemn

grazioso gracefully

l'istesso the same

larghetto slow, but not as slow as largo

largo very slow

legato smooth and connected

lento very slow

maestoso majestically

marcato marked; with emphasis

marziale martial

meno less

mezzo medium; half

moderato moderately

molto very

mosso motion, movement

non trappo not too much

pianissimo very softly

piano softly

poco a little

poco a poco little by little

prestissimo very fast; more so than presto

presto very fast

rallentando gradually slower

ritardando gradually slower

ritenuto a steady pace, but slower than the preceding tempo

rubato temporary irregularity of time, lengthening some notes at the expense of others

segno the sign

sempre always; continually

sforzando forced; with emphasis

simile the same

soli more than one performer in unison

solo a composition or passage for one performer

sostenuto sustained

staccato separated, detached style

subito suddenly

tacet silent

tempo time; speed

tenuto sustain full value

vivace vivacious; lively