Articulation

Articulation

Today we're going to learn about how to articulate sounds & notes in music!

What is articulation?

Articulation in music helps us to understand the texture of a note -- whether it's sharp and short like a pricking needle, long and gooey like flowing molasses, or rigid and stiff like a soldier marching.

Articulation can tell us about how a note starts (i.e. sharply) and how it ends (i.e. tapering off into nothing). Like dynamics and tempo markings, articulation markings don't tell us what to sing, but rather how to sing it.

Terms & definitions

• Attack: the start of a note

• Release: the end of a note

• Slurred: two or more notes attached or "blended" together

• Detached: notes that aren't attached to each other

l e g a t o

Legato is like molasses or syrup: consistently flowing, all blended together, with no breaks.

Note: legato does NOT have to mean slowly! Sometimes we sing quickly with legato notes.

Slurs also indicate legato.

s t a c c a t o

Staccato is like a bouncing basketball; short, detached, and with a strong attack.

Staccato is marked with little dots over the notes.

Here's what staccato looks like.

a c c e n t

An accent over a note is like a bee stinging! It adds a little zest to the note and makes it stand out from the others.

Here's what an accent looks like -- notice it looks like a bee's stinger?

r i t a r d a n d o

A ritardando is like putting the brakes on a car. It means to slow down!

Ritardando is often abbreviated to "ritard."

a c c e l e r a n d o

*also called "stringendo"

Accelerando means to accelerate! It's like going down a waterslide - starting off slow and getting faster and faster.

Multiple Choice

Which means short and sharp, like a basketball?

• staccato

• slurred

• stringendo

Multiple Choice

Which means to get slower, like a car's brakes?

• release

• ritardando

• stringendo

Multiple Choice

Which means smooth and connected, like honey?

• slurred

• accelerando

• legato

Multiple Choice

Which means emphasized and prominent like a bee's sting?

• accent

• detached

• legato

Multiple Select

Which mean to get faster, like going down a waterslide?

*Hint: there are two!

• attack

• stringendo

• accelerando