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Farmington High School Music Department
Common Vocabulary – Mid-term 07
Accidentals
This is the general term for a sharp, flat, and natural (cancel)
sign. They are used to alter the pitch of a note.
Bar Line A line drawn vertically on a staff to mark off a measure. Other types
of bar lines include a double bar (used at key changes and section changes),
Caesura
To cease or stop. Indicated by the symbol: //
Canon
A polyphonic piece in which all parts are identical, but enter at
different times. A round is a canon.
Chord
Three or more notes sounded together.
Crescendo and abbreviated: cresc. Indicates to gradually increase volume.
Decrescendo and abbreviated decresc. Indicates to gradually decrease
volume.
Dynamics The general term referring to levels of volume. Performers should
work to perform at all levels from pianissimo (pp) to fortissimo (ff).
Enharmonic
Two notes which sound the same, but look different from each
other when written. Ex. c-sharp & d-flat; e-sharp & f-natural
Fermata Symbol that indicates to hold a note until the conductor indicates to
move ahead.
Harmony Simultaneous sounding of two or more pitches.
Interval The distance between two notes. Measured by determining the size
and quality of the distance.
Key Signature A sign found at the beginning of each line of music that
indicates what key (major or relative minor) a piece is in and the sharps or flats
that applies.
Legato
To perform with no interruption between notes.
Measure
Metrical unit set off by bar lines.
Meter
The sign at the beginning of a piece of music which indicates, by two
numbers, the (time signature) number of beats per measure (top number) and
what unit (note) receives one beat.
Music
Sound in time; usually implies a degree of organization. The three
essential elements of music are generally considered to be: rhythm, harmony,
and melody.
Phrase
A natural division of a melodic line, comparable to a sentence in
language. Phrasing is an essential component in the expressive nature of music.
Rhythm
Everything which refers to the temporal quality (duration) of a
musical sound. It is considered along with harmony and melody (motion) one of
the three building blocks of music.
SATB
The abbreviations that stand for the major voice parts: Soprano,
Alto, Tenor, and Bass.
Scale
Actually means “ladder.” An ascending (or descending) series of
tones moving in a particular way. Examples of commonly used scales are:
Major, minor, and chromatic.
Syncopation
When emphasis is given to notes that fall on a “weak” beat or
the weak portion of a beat. Sometimes defined as accenting the off-beat.
Tempo
The speed at which time is measured (or beat) in music. There are
general and specific tempo markings. Specific time is kept by a metronome
marking such as: quarter note= 60.
Tie A curved line, which connects two successive notes of the same pitch,
making them a single sound equal in duration to the sum of the two notes.
Tone Quality
The characteristic sound made by an instrument or voices,
which allows us to distinguish voices and instruments from each other.
Vibrato
A slight fluctuation in pitch used to enhance or intensify a sound.