accelerando, accel.

becoming quicker

accent

a stressed note

adagio

slow

allegretto

fairly fast (a little slower than allegro)

allegro

fast

andante

moderately slow; at a walking pace

a tempo

return to the original tempo

breath mark

take a breath, and/or a slight pause or lift

cantabile

in a singing style

common time

a symbol for 4/4

crescendo, cresc.

becoming louder

da capo, D.C.

from the beginning

dal segno, D.S.

from the sign

D.C. al Fine

repeat from the beginning and end at Fine

decrescendo, decresc.

becoming softer

diminuendo, dim.

becoming softer

dolce

sweet, gentle

double bar line

indicates the end of a piece

down bow

on a bowed string instrument, play the note while drawing the bow downward

fermata (pause)

hold the note or rest longer than its written value

fine

the end

forte

loud

fortissimo

very loud

grazioso

graceful

legato

smooth

lento

slow

maestoso

majestic

mano destra, m.d.

right hand

mano sinistra, m.s.

left hand

marcato

marked or stressed

mezzo forte

moderately loud

mezzo piano

moderately soft

moderato

at a moderate tempo

molto

much, very

ottava, 8va

the interval of an octave

pedale, ped.

use the damper pedal (on the piano)

pianissimo

very soft

poco

little

prestissimo

as fast as possible

presto

very fast

rallentando, rall.

slowing down

repeat sign

repeat the music within the double bar lines

ritardando, rit.

slowing down gradually

slur

play the notes smoothly (legato)

staccato

detached

tempo

speed at which music is performed

Tempo Primo (Tempo I)

return to the original tempo

tenuto

held, sustained

tie

hold for the combined value of the tied notes

up bow

on a bowed string instrument, play the note while drawing the bow upward.

vivace

lively, brisk