Musical Terms

• Instead of the usual handheld flashcards, I projected these from my computer. Easier to use, always stayed nice, and all students could see better.

• Feel free to jazz it up, edit, add to, and shift slides around periodically to mix it up.

• Slides are currently set to show answer and advance on click,

you may prefer timed animation.

Adagio

Slowly and leisurely

ABAForm in which there is one section

of music, a contrasting section, and the 1st section is repeated

Decrescendo

Gradually softer

Sempre

Always

Spiritual

Sacred songs

Harmony

Two or more pitches sounding at the same time

Ostinato

A rhythmic or melodic passage that is repeated

continuously

Timbre Tone color, the distinct sound of an instrument

or voice

Accent (>)

Give the note extra emphasis or loudness

Rhythm

Short and long sounds grouped into patterns

Piano (p)

soft

Ritardando (rit.)

Gradually slowing

Staccato (.)

With distinct breaks between successive notes; separated

D.S. (%)

Go back to the sign (%)

Improvisation

Making up a song while singing or playing

Vocal

Voices

Tempo

The speed of the beat

Band

A music group consisting of brass,

woodwinds, percussion

Legato

Play or sing smoothly and connected

Form

How the sections of music are repeated

Coda

A special ending

Choir

A group of singers

Largo

slowly

Diminuendo

Diminishing; softer

Strings

Type of instruments who produce sound by vibration of strings

Call and responseForm in which one group sings or plays a phrase

and another group answers

Steady beatA consistent and regular

pulse

Moderato Moderate speed

Lullaby Sleep song

D.C.Go back to the beginning

Rondo Form in which 1 section of music is repeated with

contrasting sections in between

Instrumental

Use of instruments

Con

With

Allegro

quickly

Presto

Very fast

Phrase Musical thought or idea

Waltz

A dance in 3/4 meter

Sforzando

With sudden emphasis

Mezzo

medium

Unison

Everyone sings or plays the same part

Solo

One person plays or sings

Orchestra

Music group consisting of strings, brass,

woodwinds, percussion

Conductor

A person who leads a musical group

Dolce

sweetly

Harmony

The sounding together of 2 or more notes

Percussion

Drum type instruments who produce sound by

striking (hitting)

Pitch

The highness or lowness of sound

Composer

A person who writes musical works

Arpeggio

Playing the notes of a chord separately

Poco

little

March

Music with a steady beat suitable for a parade

Brass

Instruments who produce sound by

vibrating lips

Dynamics

volume

Verse-refrainForm in which there are 2 sections of music that alternate; form of most

pop music

Crescendo

Getting louder

Sacred

Religious music

Acapella

Singing without accompaniment

Woodwinds Instruments who

produce sound by a vibrating reed or column

of air

Forte (f)

Loud

Canon

One voice enters after another in exact imitation

of the first

Duet

2 people play or sing

Meno

less

Quartet

4 voices or instruments

Lento

slowly

Tutti

All instruments or voices

Melody

The tune of a song

Fine

The end

Grazioso

Smooth, elegantly