VOCABULARY

a tempo-return to the preceding or regular rate of speed

accidental-all signs (flat, sharp, or natural) that are placed before the notes that are not in
the key signature
accompaniment- an instrumental part designed to support or complement a melody
adjusting screw-the screw on the end of the frog that tightens or loosens the bowhair
allegretto-a little slower than allegro; light and cheerful
allegro-quick and lively
alto clef-the C clef on the third line; used primarily for the viola
andante-moderately slow
anticrusis-refer to pick-up note
arco-play with the bow on the string
arpeggio-notes of a chord played one at a time
articulation-type of attack used to play a note or a group or notes
audiate-the ability to hear something in your head without previously hearing it
balance-equal or appropriate volume levels between instrument parts and individual
voices within the ensemble
bar line-divides the music staff into measures
bass clef-clef used primarily for the lower voiced instruments
bell-the flaring end of the tube of various wind instruments
beat-the pulse of music
blend-creating a harmonious effect or result
bocal-the curved metal tube to which the reed of the bassoon is attached
body-wooden frame of a stringed instrument
bow division-part of the bow where it is appropriate to play
bow hold-correct bow hand posture
bow lift-retake of the bow
breath mark-indicates place to take a breath
bridge-the arched piece of wood that supports the strings of stringed instruments
butt end-the back end of the drumstick
canon-a piece of music in which the theme is repeated at staggered intervals
chin rest-part of a violin or viola where the left jaw rests while playing
chord-two or more pitches sounded at the same time
chromatic-notes that are altered with sharps, flats, and naturals
col legno-strike the strings with the stick (the wood) of the bow instead of the usual
manner
compound meter-a time signature that can have two or more strong beats , as in 6/8
countermelody-a secondary melody that is sounded simultaneously as the primary
melody
189

crescendo-gradually get louder

decrescendo-gradually get softer
D.C. al coda-go back to the beginning and play until you see
the coda sign then skip to the coda

190

D.C. al fine-go back to the beginning and play until the fine
D.S. al coda-go back to the sign (del segno) and play until you see the coda sign then
skip to the coda
D.S. al fine-go back to the sign (del segno) and play until the fine
diatonic- of or relating to a major or minor musical scale comprising intervals of five
whole steps and two half steps
dictation-recording music in the written form after hearing it
divisi (div.)-part of the section plays the top notes and part of the section plays the
bottom notes
dominant-fifth note of a scale; chord built on fifth note of a scale
dotted note-a dot on a note adds half the value of the note
double bar-marks the end of the music
double-stop-the playing of two strings simultaneously
down bow-bow direction that involves a pull
drag-one-handed double stroke prior to the beat
duet-a composition with two different parts, played together
dynamics-loudness or softness in music
eighth note-a note that gets beat when the bottom number of the time signature is 4
eighth rest- a rest that gets beat when the bottom number of the time signature is 4
embouchure-mouth formation used to play an instrument
end pin-part of a cello or bass that helps to anchor the instrument to the floor
enharmonic-a change in the writing of a sound without changing the pitch of the same
name
ensemble-a group of musicians
fermata-hold note or rest longer than its usual value
f-hole-the sound hole of the string instruments; so called because they resemble the letter
f
final barline-the last barline in a piece; signifies the end of a piece
fine-tuners-small screws located on tailpiece of instrument that are used for minor tuning
adjustments
fingerboard-part of a stringed instrument that connects the scroll to the body; where the
fingers land when in playing position
first ending-music underneath the first box that is only played the first time; to be
skipped the second time through
flam-a drum beat consisting of two, almost simultaneously, quickly performed strokes
flam tap-a flam with a third stroke added
flat-lowers the pitch of a note step
form-the melodic and rhythmic shape and order in which musical ideas are combined to
make a complete and extended composition
forte (f)-loud
fortissimo (ff)-very loud

frog-bottom end of the bow where right hand rests while in playing position
hair-the part of the bow that makes contact with the strings and causes strings to vibrate
half note- a note that gets 2 beat when the bottom number of the time signature is 4
half rest- a note that gets 2 beats when the bottom number of the time signature is 4
half step-the smallest distance between 2 notes

harmony-two or more different notes played at the same time

high fingers-finger that is a half step higher towards the bridge
hooked bow-two or more notes played in the same directions with a stop between each
note.
improvisation-the art of freely creating your own music as you play
interval-distance between two notes
intonation-the ability to play in tune
introduction-section of music that precedes the first theme
key signature-sharps or flats stated right after the clef; key signature change certain
notes throughout a piece of music
largo-slow
ledger lines-short lines used to extend the staff
legato-in a smooth and connected manner
ligature-used to bind the reed to some woodwind instruments
low fingers-fingers that are a half step lower towards the scroll
lower half-the portion of the bow that is between the frog and the middle of the bow
marcato-to play with a strong accent; marked
march- a musical composition that is usually in duple or quadruple time with a strongly
accentuated beat and that is designed to accompany marching
measure-space between 2 bar lines; also called a bar
measured rest-a rest that may last more than one measure
measured roll-in percussion, a roll that is subdivided into sixteenth notes
melody-a coherent succession of pitches
meter-see time signature
mezzo forte (mf)-medium loud
mezzo piano (mp)-medium soft
middle bow-middle portion of bow
th
minor-scale starting on the 6 pitch of a major scale and shares its key signature
moderato-moderate speed
mouthpiece-the part of any wind instrument which is applied to or, between the lips of
the performer
natural-cancels a flat or sharp
neck-the portion of the stringed instrument that connects the scroll to the body located
behind the fingerboard
nut-the small bridge between the head and the fingerboard of string instruments.
octave-a musical interval of eight
ostinato-a constantly recurring motive
paradiddle-a pattern of drum beats characterized by alternating hand strokes (RLRR
LRLL)
peg box-the part of a stringed instrument that is attached to the scroll and holds the
tuning pegs
pegs-knobs or screws used to tune strings, located on the peg box
phrase-musical thought or sentence

pianissimo (pp)-very soft

piano (p)-soft
pick-up note-note or notes that come before the first full measure

pitch pipe-a small pipe that, when sounded, gives a standard pitch for tuning purposes
pizzicato (pizz.)-a direction to pluck the strings
ponticello-a direction to bow near the bridge
quarter note-a note that gets one beat when the bottom number of the time signature is 4
quarter rest- a rest that gets one beat when the bottom number of the time signature is 4
quartet-a group of four players
repeat sign-repeat from the beginning or repeat sections of music between the repeat
signs
ritard (rit.)-gradually slow the tempo
scale- a graduated series of musical tones ascending or descending in order of pitch
according to a specified scheme of intervals
scroll-the part of a stringed instrument that is located at the top of the peg box
second ending-music located underneath the second box, only to be played the second
time through
sforzando-suddenly or strongly accented
sharp-raise the pitch of a note step
sight-read-to perform without previous preparation or study
simile-similarly
simple meter-time signature where there is only one strong beat per measure
sixteenth note- a note that gets 1/4 of a beat when the bottom number of the time
signature is 4
sixteenth rest- a rest that gets 1/4 of a beat when the bottom number of the time
signature is 4
slur-curved line that connected 2 or more notes of different pitches
slurred staccato-see hooked bow
snare release-lever on the side of a snare drum that turns the snares on and off
soli-whole section plays
solo-one person plays
sound post-a wooden stick connecting the top and bottom of the instrument that vibrates
when the strings are bowed or plucked, causing air to resonate and tone to be created
spiccato-a short, off-the-string stroke
staff-lines and spaces on which music is written
stick (wood)-top of the bow
subdivide-to divide the beat
sul tasto-over the fingerboard
syncopation-a shifting of the accent from the strong beat to the weaker one
sforzando-strongly and suddenly accented
sforzando piano-strong accent then immediately soft
tail piece-the part of a stringed instrument that connects the strings to the button
tempo (tempi)-speed of music
th
tenor clef-the c clef on the 4 line of the staff
tenuto-sustained for the full note value
theme and variation-form based on a change in the theme

thumb rest-the part of certain woodwind instruments where the thumb rests
tie-a curved line connecting two or more notes of the same pitch
time signature-a sign placed at the beginning of a composition to indicate its meter

tip-the very end of the bow

tonic-the home pitch in a scale
treble clef-clef used mainly for the upper voiced instruments
tremolo-a rapid up and down motion of the bow
trio- musical composition for three instruments
triplet- a group of three equal notes performed in the time of two of the same value tuning
slide-a u shaped tube on a brass instrument that slides in and out, allowing the pitch of the
instrument to be altered
tutti-all instruments performing together
twelve-bar blues progression-a twelve bar chordal pattern based on the blues scale
unison-playing parts at the same pitch
up bow-bow direction that involves a push
upper half- portion of the bow that is between the middle and the tip of the bow
vibrato-a slight fluctuation of the pitch used by performers to enrich intensify the sound
water key-a valve on a brass instrument used to relieve condensation
whole note- a note that gets 4 beats when the bottom number of the time signature is 4 whole
rest- a rest that gets 4 beats when the bottom number of the time signature is 4 whole step-a
musical interval comprised of two half steps