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Vocal Music Proficient
Word List
A Major: A key signature indicating that ‘F,’’C,’ and ‘G’ are sharp
Ab Major: A key signature indicating that ‘B,’’E,’’A,’ and ‘D’ are flat
Adagio: A slow tempo.
Al Coda: The Italian term indicating to repeat a composition either from the beginning, or from the symbol, to the end
of the composition
5. Al Fine: The Italian term indicating to repeat a composition either from the beginning, or from the symbol, to
the end of the composition
6. Al Segno: The Italian term indicating to return to the sign
7. Allegretto: A tempo marking that indicates a fast tempo, a little slower than allegro and often implies
lightness
8. Allegro: The Italian word indicating a cheerful or brisk tempo
9. Andantino: A tempo marking that is a little slower than andante
10. Art Song: Music composed for concert performance by a trained singer accompanied by piano
11. B Major: The key signature indicating ‘F,’ ‘C,’ ‘G,’ ‘D,’ and ‘A’ are sharp
12. Balance: a harmonious or satisfying arrangement of a piece.
13. Bb: The key signature indicating ‘B, and ‘E’ are flat
14. C Major: The key signature indicating that there are no sharps or flats
15. C# Major: The key signature indicating that ‘F,’ ‘C,’ ‘G,’ ‘D,’ ‘A,’ ‘E,’ ‘B’ are sharp
16. Cantare: The Italian term meaning ‘to sing’
17. Cb :The key signature indicating that ‘B,’ ‘E,’ ‘A,’ ‘D,’ ‘G,’ ‘C’, and ‘F’ are flat
18. Chest voice: the low register of one’s voice
19. Coda: The Italian term meaning “ending."
20. D Major: The key signature indicating that ‘F,’ and ‘C,’ are sharp
21. D.C. Al Fine: The direction sign in music that means to go to the beginning of the piece and sing to the
ending
22. D.S. Al Fine: The direction sign in music that means to return to the sign and continue to the end
23. Da Capo (D.C.). The Italian term referring to a repeat sign that means to go back to the beginning
24. Db Major: The key signature indicating that ‘B,’’E,’’A,’’D,’ and ‘G’ are flat
25. Diminuendo: Gradually getting softer
26. Dolce: The Italian term meaning “sweetly”
27. E Major: The key signature indicating that ‘F,’ ‘C,’ ‘G,’ and ‘D’ are sharp
28. Eb: The key signature indicating that ‘B,’ ‘E,’ and ‘A’ are flat
29. Enharmonic Tones: Two notes that are spelled differently but are actually the same pitch.
30. F# Major: The key signature indicating that ‘F,’ ‘C,’ ‘G,’ ‘D,’ ‘A,’ ‘E’ are shar
31. F: The key signature indicating that ‘B’ is flat
32. Falsetto: the light, high register of the male voice. It is above the normal range, and is less powerful than
the normal voice
33. Fortissimo: To sing very loudly
34. G Major: The Key signature indicating that ‘F’ is sharp
35. Gb: The key signature indicating that ‘B, E, A, D, G,’ and ‘C’ are flat
36. Half Step: The distance between two adjacent notes on the keyboard.
37. Head Voice: The high register of a voice
38. Intonation: playing or singing in tune with other performers.
39. Meno Mosso: The Italian term indicating less movement
40. Moderato: The Italian word indicating a medium tempo
41. Molto: The Italian word meaning very
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Pianissimo: A dynamic marking which indicates that a musical phrase is to be performed very softly
Piu Mosso: The Italian term indicating more movement
Presto: A fast tempo.
Rubato: A tempo marking that allows the conductor or performer to vary the tempo freely
Segno: The Italian term referring to the “sign”
Tessitura: the range that is most consistently used within a work or section of a composition
Tutti: To sing all together
Vibrato: a rapid fluctuation of pitch slightly above or below the main pitch
Whole Step: The distance between two notes that is equivalent to two half steps.