Grade 1 Theory

Question 1

accelerando

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

cantabile

Answer 4

in a singing style

Question 5

allegro

Answer 5

quick (literally ‘cheerful’)

Question 6

andante

Answer 6

at a medium (‘walking’) speed

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 descresc.)

Answer 10

gradually getting quieter

Question 11

diminuendo (or dim.)

Answer 11

gradually getting quieter

Question 12

f (= forte)

Answer 12

loud

Question 13

ff (= fortissimo)

Answer 13

very loud

Question 14

fine

Answer 14

the end

Question 15

legato

Answer 15

smoothly

Question 16

lento

Answer 16

slow

Question 17

mezzo

Answer 17

half

Question 18

mf (= mezzo forte)

Answer 18

moderately loud (literally ‘half’ loud)

Question 19

moderato

Answer 19

moderately (allegro moderato: moderately quick)

Question 20

mp (= mezzo piano)

Answer 20

moderately quiet (literally ‘half’ quiet)

Question 21

p (= piano)

Answer 21

quiet

Question 22

poco

Answer 22

little

Question 23

pp (= pianissimo)

Answer 23

very quiet

Question 24

rallentando (or rall.)

Answer 24

gradually getting slower

Question 25

ritardando (or ritard. or rit.)

Answer 25

gradually getting slower

Question 26

ritenuto (or riten. or rit.)

Answer 26

held back

Question 27

staccato (or stacc.)

Answer 27

detached

Question 28

tempo

Answer 28

speed, time. Back to the original time signature (a tempo: in time)