| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Grave | Very slow, ponderous and solemn |
| Largo | Slow and broad |
| Larghetto, Lento | Slowly |
| Adagio | Slow and leisurely |
| Andante | Moderately slow and flowing |
| Andantino | Slightly faster than Andante |
| Moderato | Moderately |
| Allegretto | Moderately fast |
| Allegro | Fast and lively |
| Vivace | Very fast, vivaciously |
| Presto | Extremely fast |
| Morendo | Dying away |
| Perdendosi | Dying away in sound and speed |
| Ritenuto | Hold back at a slower speed |
| A Tempo | Used to "resume original tempo" |
| Tempo Primo | Tempo same as the beginning |
| Ad Libitum | At Liberty |
| Agitato | Agitated |
| Alla Marcia | In a march style |
| Animato | More animated |
| Appassionato | With passion |
| Bravura | With boldness and spirit |
| Brillante | Brilliant and sparkling |
| Cantabile | In a singing style |
| Dolce | Sweetly |
| Espressivo | Expressively |
| Giocoso | Playfully, gaily |
| Grandioso | With grandeur |
| Grazioso | Gracefully, elegantly |
| Legato | Smooth and connected |
| Maestoso | Majestic, dignified |
| Marcato | Marked with emphasis |
| Pomposo | Pompously and dignified |
| Scherzando | Playful, jestingly |
| Sostenuto | Sustained |
| Tranquillo | Quietly |
| Accidentals | Sharps, flats and naturals not in the key signature |
| Arpeggio | Notes of a chord played separately |
| Attacca | Continue with little or no pause |
| Cadenza | A solo passage played with freedom |
| Divisi | Divided parts |
| Embouchure | Mouth muscles used in controlling the tone of a wind instrument |
| Enharmonic | Same in pitch but different notation |
| Fine | Finish, the end |
| L'istesso | The same |
| Loco | As written |
| Meno | Less |
| Molto | Very, much |
| Mosso | More |
| Opus | A musical work |
| Poco a poco | Little by little |
| Quasi | In the style of |
| Segue | Proceed in the same style |
| Senza | Without |
| Simile | Play in a similar manner |
| Subito | Suddenly, without pause |
| Syncopation | When the accent falls on the weak beats |
| Tacet | Be silent, don't play |
| Tutti | All together |
| Pianissimo | Very soft |
| Piano | Soft |
| Mezzo Piano | Moderately soft |
| Mezzo Forte | Moderately loud |
| Forte | Loud |
| Fortissimo | Very loud |
| Sforzando | Played with sudden force |
| Crescendo | Gradually louder |
| Diminuendo | Gradually softer |
| Decrescendo | Gradually softer |
| Ritardando | Gradually slower and slower |
| Rallentando | Gradually slower |
| Accelerando | Gradually faster |
| Da Capo | Back to the beginning |
| Dal Segno | Back to the sign |
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