Italian Music Terms (Grade 1)

dolce means:

• sweet

• smoothly

• slow

• in a singing style

ritardando means:

• gradually getting slower

• gradually getting quicker

• gradually getting louder

• gradually getting quieter

p means:

• moderately quiet

• quiet

• very quiet

• very loud

a tempo means:

• slow

• gradually getting quicker

• in time

• the end

cantabile means:

• repeat from the beginning

• in a singing style

• at a medium speed

• smoothly

mf means:

• quiet

• moderately quiet

• very loud

• moderately loud

rallentando means:

• gradually getting louder

• gradually getting quicker

• gradually getting slower

• slow

f means:

• loud

• moderately loud

• very loud

• moderately quiet

D. C. (da capo) means:

• in a singing style

• in time

• the end

• repeat from the beginning

legato means:

• slow

• smoothly

• detached

• quiet