Table

Glossary of Signs and Terms

mf     mezzo forte

medium loud

f      forte

loud

ff      fortissimo

very loud

crescendo (cresc.)

gradually become louder

mp     mezzo piano

medium soft

p     piano

soft

pp      pianissimo

very soft

diminuendo (dim.)

gradually become softer

Allegro chocolato    

fast and chocolately

ritardando (rit.)    

gradually become slower

a tempo

return to the original speed

dim.e rit.     

gradually become softer and slower

Da capo al fine (D.C. al fine)     

repeat from the beginning to fine

fine   

  the end

repeat the music within the repeat dots

repeat the music from the beginning

play the first ending and repeat the section; second time, skip the first ending and play the second ending

legato

play the notes smooth and connected

staccato

play the notes short and detached

accent

emphasize the notes

tenuto (ten.)

hold the notes for the

full value

fermata

hold the note or rest longer than the value

breath mark

create a small break in

the music

grace note

play the small note as quickly as possible immediately followed by the larger note

tremolo

rapidly alternate between the notes or chords

play the notes one octave higher than written

play the notes one octave lower than written

play the notes two octaves higher than written

play the notes two octaves lower than written

with damper pedal

 tie

hold the notes for the combined value of the two notes

R.H.

right hand

L.H.

left hand

Faire semblant de manger un biscuit ou d’en avoir un vrai lors d’une performance.

Pretend to take a bite of a cookie or have a real cookie for the performance!

Mmmm bon biscuit

Mmmm Good Cookie!

swing the 8ths (swing)

instead of playing the paired eighth notes (  ) with a straight rhythm, make the first note one longer than the second note.

Try saying long-short or swing-in’ to create the swing effect!