| A | B |
|---|
| whole note | 4 beats |
| hafl note | 2 beats |
| quarter note | 1 beat |
| eighth note | 1/2 beat |
| dotted quarter note | 3 beats |
| 4/4 time signature | 4 quarter note beats per measure |
| 3/4 time signature | 3 quarter note beats per measure |
| staff | 5 lines and 4 spaces |
| pitch | highness or lowness of sound |
| treble clef | used for notes in higher pitch range |
| bass clef | used for notes in lower pitch range |
| grand staff | conbination of the treble and bass staffs |
| time signature | number of notes per measure/kind of note receiving 1 beat |
| tie | a curved line joining two notes of the same pitch |
| slur | a curved line joining notes of different pitches so that there is no break in sound between pitches |
| legato | play notes smoothly, with no break in sound between pitches |
| staccato | play notes short and detached |
| piano (Italian) | soft |
| forte (Italian) | loud |
| mezzo piano (Italian) | moderately soft |
| mezzo forte (Italian) | moderately loud |
| pianissimo (Italian) | very soft |
| fortissimo (Italian) | very lout |
| dynamic signs | signs that instruct the musician to play softly or loudly |
| tempo marks | signs that tell the musician to play quickly or slowly |
| largo (Italian) | very slow |
| adagio (Italian) | slow |
| andante (Italian) | moving along (walking speed) |
| moderato (Italian) | moderately |
| allegro (Italian) | quickly, cheerfully |
| vivace (Italian) | lively and fast |
| retardando (Italian) | gradually slower |
| accelerando (Italian) | gradually faster |
| rit. | abbreviation for retardando |
| ritard. | abbreviation for retardando |
| accel. | abbreviation for accelerando |
| fermata | hold the note until Mrs. Smalkin indicates you should stop! |
| tenuto (Italian) | hold: hold the note for its full value |
| fine (Italian) | end |
| da capo | from the beginning |
