Download sign lesson term definition

MOONBEAM THREE TERMS & DEFINITIONS
(* needed for RCM Theory Exam)
SIGN
LESSON
#
22
accel.
C
3
TERM
*a tempo
accelerando
DEFINITION
return to the original speed
getting faster
2
*accent
play the note strongly
11
accidentals
sharps & flats not found in the key
signature
1
*adagio
very slow, slower than andante but not
as slow as slow as largo
25
air
song
1
*allegretto
fairly fast but slower than allegro
1
*allegro
quick & lively, fast
11
*andante
slow walking pace
15
*andantino
a little faster than andante
17
bourree
an old French dance
3
*cantabile
singing style
7
chromatic semitone
same letter semitones
11
common time
4/4
26
con moto
with movement
28
*con pedale (or Ped)
with pedal
26
con spirito
with spirit
23
*crescendo (cresc)
getting louder
C
23
cut time
two strong beats to the bar (2/2)
D.C.
13
*da capo
repeat from the beginning
D.S.
13
*dal segno
repeat from the sign
23
*decrescendo (decresc)
getting quieter
9
diatonic semitone
different letter semitones
3
*diminuendo
getting quieter
6
*dolce
sweetly
27
dominant
5th note of scale or chord
23
dynamics
changes in volume (eg. p,f, mf, etc)
19
energico
energetically
26
expressivo
with expression
9
*fermata
hold the note or rest longer than its
written value
6
*fine
the end
6
flat
lowers note one semitone
f
23
*forte
loud
ff
23
*fortissimo
very loud
26
grave
the slowest tempo
21
*grazioso
gracefully
5
harmonic interval
two notes placed one on top of the other
15
harmonic minor scale
the natural minor scale with the 7th note
raised
1
interval
distance between two notes
19
key
name of scale music is based on
dim.
V
25
key signature
sharps or flats at beginning of song that
indicates key
9
*larghetto
not as slow as largo
10
*largo
very slow and broad
3
*legato
smoothly
17
leggiero
lightly
22
lentement
slow
10
*lento
slow
9
loco
return to the normal octave (location)
13
M.M.
Maelzel’s Metronome
28
ma non troppo
but not too much
18
*maestoso
majestically
21
major intervals
2, 3, 6, 7
m.d.
7
*mano destra
right hand
m.s.
7
*mano sinestra
left hand
18
*marcato
accented, with emphasis
17
march
a piece in 2/4 time (sometimes 4/4)
with a strong marked rhythm
5
melodic interval
two notes placed beside each other
15
melodic minor scale
natural minor scale with the 6th and 7th
raised on the way up and lowered on
the way down
mf
23
*mezzo forte
medium loud
mp
23
*mezzo piano
medium quiet
18
minuet
a slow French dance in ¾ time
22
minor intervals
2, 3, 6, 7 lowered one semitone
22
misterioso
mysteriously
10
*moderato
medium tempo
28
molto
much
19
morendo
dying away in time and tone
2
natural
cancels flat or sharp
15
natural minor scale
starts 3 semitones down from its relative
major and shares the same key
signature but has no accidentals
7
octave
distance of 8 notes
10
ottava
play one octave higher or interval of an
octave
19
perfect intervals
1, 4, 5, 8
13
phrase
musical sentence or idea indicated by a
slur
pp
23
*pianissimo
very quiet
p
23
*piano
quiet
28
piu
more
11
poco
little
25
portamento
slightly detached
18
prelude
a short instrumental piece often used as
an introduction to another piece
6
*prestissimo
as fast as possible
6
*presto
very fast
25
primo
top part of a piano duet
27
*rallentando
getting slower
8va
rall.
13
relative keys
major and minor scales that share the
same key signature
28
*repeat signs
repeat the notes within the signs
2
*ritardando
getting slower
17
root
note that names the chord
19
scherzando
playfully
25
secondo
lower part of a piano duet
5
semitone
the closest step on the piano
26
sempre
always
23
senza
without
sf
3
sforzando
a sudden strong accent
#
5
sharp
raises note one semitone
21
simile
continue in a similar style
17
*slur
a curved line meaning to play smoothly
1
*staccato
play note sharply detached
27
subdominant
4th note of scale
11
subito
suddenly
21
suite
a series or set of movements in various
dance forms
2
tempo
speed at which music is performed
22
*tempo primo
(tempo I)
return to the orignal tempo
2
tenuto
slight accent
rit.
IV
I
23
*tie
curved line joining two notes of same
pitch telling you to hold the note for the
combined time values
27
time signature
numbers found at beginning of song that
shows beats per measure
27
tonic
1st note of scale
19
una corda
use the soft pedal on the left
(one string)
7
vivace
very lively
10
vivo
lively
18
waltz
a dance in ¾ time
5
whole tone
two semitones
10
*8va
ottava – play one octave higher
10
8vb
bassa – play one octave lower
21
15ma
play two octaves higher or lower
15
*1
2
first and second endings