Key Definitions Flashcards
Da Capo
“From the head” - go back to the beginning
Dal Segno
“From the sign” - go back to the sign
al Coda
“To coda” - play until you see the coda sign, then at the coda sign, jump from here to the coda sign at the end of the piece
al Fine
Play until the end
ppp
Pianississimo (very very quiet)
mp
Mezzo piano (moderately quiet)
Sf/sfz
Sforzando (forced, accented) (play one note very loudly)
fp
Fortepiano (play loudly, then immediately make the note quiet)
What does the left pedal do on a grand piano, and what is it called?
Reduces volume (by causing only one string to be hit instead of the usual three) “Una corda” or a “soft pedal” on an upright piano
What does the right pedal do on a grand piano, and what is it called?
Causes strings to continue vibrating after the keys have been released
“Damper” or “sustain”
What does the third pedal (only on a grand piano) do, and what is it called?
Enables player to let the sound continue on some notes, but for other notes to be unaffected
“Sostenuto”
Con sordino/con sord.
Use the mute
Senza sordino/Senza sord.
Stop using the mute
What do you have to remember when giving technical names to notes (eg, the first note, the 6th note)
They are labelled from an ascending scale
What is the technical name for the 1st/8th note of a scale?
Tonic
