Vocab
Learn the language of music
Glossary
The 2/4 Time Signature indicates there are 2 quarter notes per measure or anything equal.
The 3/4 Time Signature indicates there are 3 quarter notes per measure or anything equal.
The 4/4 Time Signature tells us that each measure is full (or whole) when there are 4 quarter notes per measure or anything equal. Therefore, a whole note is equal to the length of 4 quarter notes.
Barlines create “boxes of music” known as measures that help us keep track and stay together while we play our music in time.
A breath mark is used to indicate a good place to breathe and maintain good tone. It looks like a comma or an apostrophe.
In the Treble Clef: The lines are EGBDF and the spaces are FACE.
In the Bass Clef: The lines are GBDFA and the spaces are ACEG.
Common Time is another name for the 4/4 Time Signature. You will notice the letter "C" for "common" instead of the numbers 4/4 where the time signature goes at the beginning of the song.
A Dotted Half Note gets 3 counts of sound in 4/4 time. The dot adds half the value, so 2 + 1 = 3.
Dynamics are the volume changes marked in the music. You might see letters under the notes to indicate the softest volume to the strongest volume as follows: pppp, ppp, pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff, fff, ffff.
A fermata means to hold the note or rest longer than usual.
The final barline or double barline marks the end of a song with one thin line and one thick line.
Forte means to play strong. It is marked under the notes with the letter f.
A Half Note gets 2 counts of sound in 4/4 time.
A Half Rest gets 2 counts of silence in 4/4 time.
A key signature shows the sharps or flats to be played. It helps the musician understand the main set of pitches of a piece of music.
Barlines create “boxes of music” known as measures that help us keep track and stay together while we play our music in time.
Mezzo Forte means to play medium strong. It is marked under the notes with the letter mf.
Mezzo Piano means to play medium softly. It is marked under the notes with the letter mp.
A natural cancels a flat or a sharp.
A phrase is one breath of notes played expressively. You might call it a musical question or response.
Piano means to play softly. It is marked under the notes with the letter p.
A pick up note or anacrusis is an unstressed note or notes before the first strong beat (or downbeat) of a phrase.
A Quarter Note gets 1 count of sound in 4/4 time.
A Quarter Rest gets 1 count of silence in 4/4 time.
A repeat sign looks like two dots next to the final barline. It means to repeat back to beginning and play it again.
A slur is a curved line that connects two or more notes of different pitch. Play with a smooth connection the between the different pitches using good air support and careful articulation.
Slurs are curved lines between different notes. Play them smooth and connected with good air support and careful articulation.
A soli means one section plays - such as all of the clarinets.
A solo means one person plays.
We read and write music on 5 lines and 4 spaces called the Staff.
A tie is a curved line that connects two notes of the same pitch. Play the notes as a single note with the combined duration of both.
The 4/4 Time Signature tells us that each measure is full (or whole) when there are 4 quarter notes per measure or anything equal. Therefore, a whole note is equal to the length of 4 quarter notes.
After a solo or soli, the composer may use the word tutti to indicate that everyone plays.
A Whole Note gets 4 counts of sound in 4/4 time.
A Whole Rest gets 4 counts of silence in 4/4 time.