Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Middle School Music Vocabulary > MS Music Vocabulary > Flashcards

MS Music Vocabulary Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Vocab Builder flashcards Ultimate Music Theory flashcards
1
Q

1st & Second Endings

A

Play through the 1st Ending. Then play the repeated section of music, skipping the 1st Ending and playing the 2nd Ending.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

The Beat

A

This is the pulse of music, and like your heartbeat it should remain very steady. Counting aloud and foot-tapping help us maintain a steady beat. Tap your foot down on each number and up on each “&.”

One beat = 1 &

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Accelerando (accel.)

A

Gradually faster.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Accent

A

Emphasize the note.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Chromatic Notes

A

Notes that are altered with sharps, flats, and natural signs which are not in the key signature. The smallest distance between two notes is a half-step, and a scale made up of consecutive half-steps is called a chromatic scale.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

D.C. al Fine

A

At the D.C. al Fine play again from the beginning, stopping at Fine (fee-nay). D.C. is the abbreviation for Da Capo, or “two the beginning,” and Fine means “the end.”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

D.S. al Coda

A

Play until you see the D.S. al Coda. Then go back to the sign and play until the Coda Sign (“To Coda”). Skip directly to the Coda and play until the end.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

D.S. al Fine

A

Play until you see the D.S. al Fine. Then go back to the sign and play until the word Fine. D.S. is the abbreviation for Dal Segno, or “from the sign,” and Fine means “the end.”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Dotted Half Note

A

A three-beat note. A dot adds half the value of the note.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Dotted Quarter Notes

A

A one-and-a-half-count note. A dot adds half the value of the quarter note.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Double Bar

A

Indicates the end of a piece of music.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Dynamics

A

The loudness or softness of music.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Crescendo (cresc.)

A

Gradually louder.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Decrescendo or diminuendo (dim.)

A

Gradually softer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Eighth Notes

A

A note worth 1/2 beat. Two of these notes together add up to 1 beat.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Enharmonics

A

Two notes that are written differently, but sound the same. Example: Eb and D#

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Fermata

A

Hold the note (or rest) longer than normal.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Flat

A

This lowers the pitch of a note by a half-step. The note B-flat sounds a half step below B, and all B’s become B-flats for the rest of the measure where they occur.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Harmony

A

Two or more notes played together. Each combination forms a chord.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Interval

A

The distance between two pitches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Key Changes

A

If a key signature changes during a piece of music, you will usually see a thin double bar line at the key change. You may also see natural signs reminding you to “cancel” previous sharps or flats. Keep playing, using the correct notes indicated in the new key signature.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Key Signature

A

This tells us which notes to play with sharps or flats throughout the music.

23
Q

Legato

A

Played in a smooth, connected style.

24
Q

Natural

A

This symbol cancels a flat (b) or a sharp (#) and remains in effect for the entire measure.

25
Q

Multiple Measure Rest

A

This is a grouping of rests with a number above the staff. The number tells you how many full measures to rest. Count each measure of rest in sequence: “1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4, 3-2-3-4” etc.

26
Q

Phrase

A

A musical “sentence” which is often 2 or 4 measures long. Try to play one of these in one breath.

27
Q

Pick-Up Notes

A

One or more notes that come before the first full measure. The beats of these notes are subtracted from the last measure.

28
Q

Rallentando (rall.)

A

Gradually slower (same as ritardando or rit.)

29
Q

Quarter Note

A

A note worth 1 beat.

30
Q

Quarter Rest

A

A rest worth one beat.

31
Q

Repeat Signs

A

Repeat the section of music enclosed by the repeat signs. If there is no start repeat sign, go back to the beginning.

32
Q

Sharp

A

This symbol raises the pitch of a note by a half-step. The note F-sharp sounds a half-step above F, and all F’s become F-sharps for the rest of the measure where they occur.

33
Q

Sixteenth Notes

A

4 of these notes=1 beat.
1 of these notes=1/4 beat.
Counted as “1e&a” (“1 Ee and Uh”) 2e&a etc.

34
Q

Slur

A

A curved line which connects notes of different pitch. Tongue only the first note.

35
Q

Staccato

A

Notes with this marking are played lightly and with separation. They are marked with a dot above or below the note.

36
Q

Syncopation

A

This occurs when an accent or emphasis is given to a note that is not on a strong beat. This type of “off-beat” feel is common in many popular and classical styles.

37
Q

Tenuto

A

These notes are played smoothly and connected, holding each note until the next is played. They are marked with a straight line above or below the note.

38
Q

2/4 Time Signature

A

2 beats per measure

Quarter note gets one beat

39
Q

3/4 Time Signature

A

3 beats per measure

Quarter Note gets one beat

40
Q

Common Time (4/4 Time)

A

4 beats per measure

Quarter Note gets one beat

41
Q

6/8 Time Signature

A

6 beats per measure
Eighth note gets one beat

This time signature is played with a slight emphasis on the 1st and 4th beats of each measure. This divides the measure into groups of 2 and 3 beats each. In faster music, these two primary beats will make the music feel like it’s counted “in 2.”

42
Q

Cut Time Signature

A

2 beats per measure

Half Note gets one beat

43
Q

Tempo Markings

A

These are words (often in Italian or French) that indicate the speed of music. They are usually written above the staff.

Allegro-fast
Moderato-medium
Andante-slower walking

44
Q

Tie

A

A curved line connecting notes of the same pitch. Play one note for the combined counts of the tied notes.

Example: a quarter note tied to another quarter note is 2 beats. (1 beat+1 beat=2 beats).

45
Q

Note Names

A

Each note is on a line or a space of the staff. These note names are indicated by the Treble Clef or Bass Clef.

46
Q

Triplets

A

A group of 3 notes played in the space of 2. The notes are spread evenly across one beat.

47
Q

Whole Note

A

A note worth 4 beats.

48
Q

Whole Rest

A

A rest worth 4 beats.

49
Q

Forte (f)

A

Play loudly

50
Q

Mezzo-forte (mf)

A

Play medium-loud

51
Q

Piano (p)

A

Play softly

52
Q

Allegro

A

Fast tempo

53
Q

Andante

A

“Walking” tempo

54
Q

Moderato

A

Medium tempo (moderate)

Middle School Music Vocabulary (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions