Music Vocabulary
When we have rehearsal, it will be very helpful if everyone knows what I'm talking about. Here's a list of words you need to know.
Basics
- Staff- 5 lines and 4 spaces; your music is written on it.
- Clef- the funny looking symbol at the beginning of every line on your music.
- Barline- the vertical (up and down) line that separates one measure from another.
- Measure- a few beats of music (usually 2, 3, or 4) inside two barlines.
- Time Signature- the big numbers at the beginning of your music; they tell how many beats are in each measure and what kinds of note equals one beat. (Just remember: how many of what kind.)
- Key Signature- the strange b's and tic-tac-toe signs at the beginning of each line of music. They tell you which notes to play flat or sharp.
Dynamics (Volume)
- pianissimo (pp)- very soft
- piano (p)- soft
- mezzo piano (mp)- medium soft
- mezzo forte (mf)- medium loud
- forte (f)- loud
- fortissimo (ff)- very loud
- crescendo- get louder
- decrescendo (also called diminuendo)- get softer
Other Terms
- Scale- notes going up or down by steps, from one octave to another.
(ex. C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C)
- Octave- two notes that have the same name, but are eight notes apart. (see "Scale")
- Woodwinds- flutes, oboes, clarinets, and saxophones.
- Brass- trumpets, trombones, baritones, and tubas.
- Strings- violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.
- Percussion- snare drum, bass drum, bells, woodblock, tambourine, bongos, toms, and anything else you hit. (Brothers and sisters do not count.)
- PAGE 3
