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Aural and Music Theory
Quick questions on Musical Terms, Signs and Performance Directions - TCE Music (Tasmania)
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are tempo markings?Show answer
Tempo words give the basic speed and often a sense of mood. From slow to fast: largo (broad, very slow), adagio (slow), andante (walking pace), moderato (moderate), allegro (fast, lively), vivace (lively, quick) and presto (very fast). Changes of tempo include accelerando (gradually faster), rallentando and ritardando (gradually slower), and a tempo (return to the original speed). Rubato means flexible timing for expressive effect.
What are dynamic markings?Show answer
Dynamics control loudness. The scale runs pianissimo (pp, very soft), piano (p, soft), mezzo-piano (mp, moderately soft), mezzo-forte (mf, moderately loud), forte (f, loud) and fortissimo (ff, very loud). Gradual changes are crescendo (getting louder) and diminuendo or decrescendo (getting softer), often shown by hairpin signs that open or close. A sudden accent on one note is sforzando (sfz), and forte-piano (fp) means loud then immediately soft.
What are articulation signs?Show answer
Articulation governs how each note is attached to the next. A staccato dot shortens and detaches the note. A slur (a curved line over different pitches) means play smoothly and connected, which is legato. A tie (a curved line between the same pitch) joins the notes into one sustained sound rather than two.
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