MUSIC Terms: can apply to choir or instrumental music
Revised 8/18/14
Allegro – fast, tempo marking
Andante – walking pace, tempo marking
Arpeggio – broken chord/harmony
Bass clef/F clef – staff used to notate lower notes
Chromatic note – note outside of the key signature designated with an accidental
Chromatic scale – scale built of half steps, repeating letter names, ascending or descending
Crescendo – getting louder
Diaphragm – the breathing muscle/“singing muscle” located below the lungs and rib cage
Diatonic scale – 8 notes, successive letter names, 5 whole and 2 half steps (no note names repeat)
Decrescendo/diminuendo – getting softer
Dotted note – ADDS half the value of the note to the note
Double bar line – indicates the end of a piece of music or the end of a complete section
Coda – alternative/second ending
DS al Coda – repeat back to the sign (or beginning), sing/play to the “jump” sign, skip to the coda
Dynamics – HOW the music is performed in terms of volume and style i.e. soft, loud, smooth, etc.
Enharmonic – two notes that SOUND the same but are spelled differently
Explosive – consonant sound that releases air (or pops) i.e. “p”, “b”, or “t”
Fermata – also called a PAUSE, hold note until told to release
Flat – lowers pitch (or tone) ½ stepdouble flat – lowers pitch a whole step (2 flats joined i.e. Gbb)
Form – the layout/pattern of the song
Forte – loud, indicated with a small “f”, under category of dynamics
Fortissimo – very loud, indicated “ff”, dynamics
Half step/semi-tone – smallest measurable distance in Western music
Harmony – two or more notes played/sung together
Interval – distance between any two notes. An interval and its inversion = nine steps.
Key signature – a pitch measurement – determines which notes are always sharp or flat within the music
Largo – slowly, tempo marking
Ledger lines – line that extend the staff above or below the 5 original lines
Legato – smooth and connected, dynamics
Measure – section of music defined by beats and indicated with BAR lines
Mezzo forte – moderately loud, dynamics
Mezzo piano – moderately soft, dynamics
Middle C – imaginary line in between the bass and treble clefs, center of the GRAND STAFF
“mmmm” sound – brings the voice forward into the nasal cavity
Natural – cancels a sharp or flat
Note tree – breakdown of the rhythm values of notes from longest to shortest
Octave – jump of 8 notes to the same note, an octave is an interval
Pause – see fermata
Piano – soft, indicated with a small “p”, dynamics
Pianissimo – very soft, indicated “pp”, dynamics
Pitch – the sound accuracy of the played/sung note
Repeat sign – double vertical bars with 2 dots indicating to go back and repeat the section
Rests – silent beats
Sharp – raises pitch (or tone) ½ stepdouble sharp - raises pitch a whole step (2 sharps joined i.e. Gx)
Slur – Curved arc that groups notes together to be played or sung in ONE breath
Solfege – old method used to teach children to sing
Staccato – short and choppy, dynamics
Staff – 5 parallel lines in music that are used to “space” the notes
Tempo – speed/pace of the music
Tie – curved line that joins the beat values of the notes
Time signature – a rhythm measurement - determines 2 things: how many beats per measure and which note gets one beat
Tonality – refers to the idea that all the pitches used in a section of music relate to a central note called a TONIC
Treble clef/G clef –staff used to notate higher notes
Unison – 2 or more voice/instruments singing or playing the SAME notes
Vivace – lively, usually fast, tempo marking
Whole step – two half steps
What makes a good singer?
-Keep a tune (or a rap), NOT pitchy
-Range (highs and lows)
-Convey emotion
-Unique vocal quality
-Performance (sell it baby…)
-Cultural background
-Appearance/style
-Knowledge/understanding of music and the music business (working the gig/doing what it takes)
Most efficient way of song learning:
-Learning the melody and rhythm accurately
-Use appropriate dynamics (loud, soft, accent)
-Make decisions on phrasing and breathing points
-Interpret and communicate the song’s meaning or intent
-Practice, practice, practice
-Studying and reading aloud the text for meaning and clear pronunciation (singers…)
Musicianship (being a good musician) includes knowledge of 5 basic areas:
-Rhythm
-Pitch
-Harmony
-Form
-Dynamics
When playing/singing the song…
-Anticipate/think ahead (the next section)
-Entrances: know WHEN you play/sing… and nail it!
-Focus/concentrate: pay attention to what you’re doing
-Work: stay consistent, keep it even