Grade 1 Glossary

Question 1

accelerando

or

accel.

Answer 1

gradually getting quicker

Question 2

Adagio

Answer 2

Slow

Question 3

allegretto

Answer 3

fairly quick

(but not as quick as allegro)

Question 4

allegro

Answer 4

quick

(literally ‘cheerful’)

Question 5

andante

Answer 5

at a medium (‘walking’) speed

Question 6

cantabile

Answer 6

in a singing style

Question 7

crescendo

or

cresc.

Answer 7

gradually getting louder

Question 8

da capo

or

D.C.

Answer 8

repeat from the beginning

Question 9

dal segno

or

D.S.

Answer 9

repeat from the sign

Question 10

decrescendo

or

decresc.

Answer 10

gradually getting quieter

Question 11

diminuendo

or

dim.

Answer 11

gradually getting quieter

Question 12

fine

Answer 12

the end

Question 13

forte

Answer 13

loud

Question 14

fortissimo

Answer 14

very loud

Question 15

legato

Answer 15

smoothly

Question 16

lento

Answer 16

slow

Question 17

mezzo

Answer 17

half

Question 18

mezzo forte

Answer 18

moderately loud

(literally ‘half’ loud)

Question 19

mezzo piano

Answer 19

moderately quiet

(literally ‘half’ quiet)

Question 20

moderato

Answer 20

moderately

Question 21

allegro moderato

Answer 21

moderately quick

Question 22

piano

Answer 22

quiet

Question 23

pianissimo

Answer 23

very quiet

Question 24

poco

Answer 24

a little

Question 25

rallentando

or

rall.

Answer 25

gradually getting slower

Question 26

ritardando

or

ritard.

or

rit.

Answer 26

gradually getting slower

Question 27

ritenuto

or

riten.

or

rit.

Answer 27

held back

Question 28

staccato

or

stacc.

Answer 28

detached

Question 29

tempo

Answer 29

speed, time

Question 30

a tempo

Answer 30

in time