Music Symbols & Vocabulary

Indicates the the note in the chord should be played independently.

• Arpeggio

• Fermata

• Accent

• Glissando

Indicates that player should play the note shorter and more abbreviated than it's typical value.

• Arpeggio

• Glissando

• Staccato

• Legatto

How many sixteenth notes equal one whole note?

• 8

• 4

• 12

• 16

This symbol tells the player to abruptly shift from a loud dynamic to a quiet dynamic.

• Forte

• Fortepiano

• Glissando

• Staccato

This symbol is used to indicate that a note should be held until given a cue from the conductor to continue playing.

• Accent

• Breathmark

• Fermata

• Staccato

 This symbol instructs the player to slide in pitch up and down from note to note.

• Arpeggio

• Glissando

• Staccato

• Pianissimo

This symbol indicates to a player or singer to sing or play the indicated phrase again

• Repeat

• Breathmark

• Staccato

• Arpeggio

Cressando

Decrescendo

Fermata