Vocabulary List #1 - Mapping
Term
Coda
Abbrev.
//////
Symbol
fine
tutti
da capo
D.C. al coda
//////
//////
D.C.
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
D.C. al fine
//////
//////
dal segno
D.S.

D.S. al coda
//////
//////
D.S. al fine
//////
//////
repeat sign
//////
1st, 2nd, etc.
Endings
//////
Definition
ending passage

the end
all sing together
from the beginning
from the beginning to the coda symbol then
directly to the closing passage
from the beginning and continue to the fine
marking
from the sign
||:
:||
from the sign to the coda symbol then directly
to the closing passage
from the sign to then continue to the fine
marking
repeat information between signs; when only
one repeat sign is
present repeat back to the beginning
music under the 1st ending to be played the
first time through only,
music under the 2nd ending to be played the
second time through only without playing any
of the 1st ending music
Vocabulary List #2 - Dynamics & Basic Notation
Term
pianissimo
piano
mezzo piano
mezzo forte
forte
fortissimo
crescendo
Abbrev.
pp
p
mp
mf
f
ff
cresc.
decrescendo
decresc.
gradually get softer
diminuendo
dim.
gradually get softer
messa di voce
//////
gradually get louder then softer on one pitch
ritardando
breath mark
rit.,ritard. / / / / / /
//////
)
gradually get slower
breathe here
no breath mark
N.B.
do not breathe here
tenuto
ten.
stress; hold for full value
unstress mark
//////
Symbol
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
U
Definition
very soft
soft
moderately or medium soft
moderately or medium loud
loud
very loud
gradually get louder
do not stress
Vocabulary List #3 - Articulations & Frequent Markings
Term
staccato
Abbrev.
//////
Symbol
Definition
cut short, detached, separated style
legato
leggiero
marcato
accent
leg.
//////
marc.
//////
//////
//////
//////
smooth, connected style
lightly, springy, bouncy style
marked, emphatic style
strong and sudden emphasis
rallentando
allargando
accelerando
sostenuto
rubato
espressivo
a tempo
fermata
rall.
allarg.
accel.
sost.
rub.
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
gradually get slower
gradually get slower and louder; broaden
gradually get faster
sustained
freely
expressively
return to the previous tempo
hold, pause
staggered
breathing
//////
//////
Don’t breathe in the obvious spot or when your neighbor
does
Vocabulary List #4 - Prefixes and a Suffix
Term
poco a poco
sempre
simile
piu
molto
meno
senza
con
subito
------------mosso
Abbrev.
//////
//////
sim.
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
-----//////
Symbol
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
----//////
Definition
little by little
always, continually
in a like manner
more
much, very
less
without
with
suddenly
----------------------------------------motion
Vocabulary List #5 - Other Terms
Term
tempo
dynamics
dolce
chromatic
a cappella
tutti
maestoso
unison
tessitura
Abbrev.
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
Symbol
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
//////
Definition
rate of speed
the degree of loudness and softness
sweetly
movement by half steps
without accompaniment
all together
majestically
two or more parts at the same pitch or an octave apart
average vocal range of a piece of music