Musical Terms and Definitions

Marcato

• play the note loud and short, marked

• play the note softly and long

• play the note with a smooth legato

• play the note at a moderate tempo

Moderato

• a fast tempo

• a slow tempo

• a moderate tempo

• an accelerating tempo

Ritardando

• a sudden increase in speed

• a gradual decrease in speed

• a type of musical instrument

• a specific musical note

Accelerando

• a gradual increase in speed

• a sudden stop

• a decrease in tempo

• a constant pace

Andante

• at a "walking" pace

• at a fast pace

• at a slow pace

• at a running pace

Allegro

• a slow tempo

• a fast tempo

• a moderate tempo

• a very slow tempo

Staccato

• short, light, and separated

• smooth and connected

• long and sustained

• loud and harsh

Accent

• play the note louder

• play the note softer

• play the note at a normal volume

• play the note with a different pitch

Tenuto

• long and connected

• short and detached

• fast and staccato

• soft and muted

Adagio

• a relatively slow tempo

• a fast tempo

• a moderate tempo

• a very fast tempo