| Term | Definition |
|---|
| staff | the 5 lines that music is written on |
| bass clef | backwards C with 2 dots on the right side; octave below normal |
| treble clef | shows that the music is in the middle C area. |
| piano score | the couple of staffs that show the piano part (below singers' lines) |
| measure number | numbers indicating where you are in the music |
| key signature | sharps and flat things on the left side of the staff that show what key you're in |
| time signature | an example is 44 (but the 4's are on top of each other) |
| system | group of staffs connected by one line going through them |
| 4 | beats per whole note |
| 2 | beats per half note |
| 3 | beats per dotted half note |
| 1 | beats per quarter note |
| 1.5 | beats per dotted quarter note |
| .5 | beats per eighth note |
| .25 | beats per sixteenth note |
| tie | curved line connecting 2 notes that are the same into one |
| slur | curved line connecting 2 different notes so they are played without a break in between |
| pp | sign for pianissimo (really quiet) |
| p | sign for piano (quiet) |
| mp | sign for mezzo piano (medium quiet) |
| mf | sign for mezzo forte (medium loud) |
| f | sign for forte (loud) |
| ff | sign for fortissimo (really loud) |
| crescendo | going from soft to loud |
| decrescendo | going from loud to soft |
| diminuendo | going from a louder sound to a softer sound (basically a decrescendo |
| balance | volume levels between sections |
| blend | singers not sticking out individually |
| diction | pronunciation |
| intonation | being in tune |
| tone | quality of sound |
| pitch | a note, high or low |
| phrase | a musical sentence |
| vowel | ah eh ee oh oo |
| voiced consonant | v, d, b, g, z, zh (as in vision) |
| unvoiced consonant | f, t, p, k, s, sh |
| diphthong | 2 vowel sounds put together (for example sky or house) |
| unison | everyone on one part |
| divisi | divided parts |
| a capella | only voices, no instruments |
| tempo | speed |
| inside voices | alto and tenor |
| outside voices | soprano and bass |
Combine with other sets
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