| Term | Definition |
| fortissimo | very loud |
| crescendo | gradually growing louder |
| maestoso | majestic |
| descant | a high ornamental voice part, often lying above the melody |
| mezzo piano | medium soft |
| decrescendo | gradually growing softer |
| dolce | sweetly usually soft as well |
| ritardando | gradually slower |
| forte | loud |
| mezzo forte | medium loud |
| fermata | hold the indicated note for longer than its value |
| al fine | to ending, an indicator following D.C or D.S |
| optional division | the part splits into optional harmony |
| no breath | an indication by the composer of where not to breathe in a line of music |