In every grade you will be tested on your knowledge of various musical terms, signs and symbols. No video can help you learn these – it’s just a case of taking a deep breath and learning each term one-by-one. Of course, every time you look at a piece of music see what terms and symbols are used – if you’re not sure what something is, look it up or ask a music teacher. You’ll be amazed what you can learn just by looking at a piece of music.
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If an exam question asks for the meaning of a symbol don’t just give the English translation of the word. For example, if you were asked to give the meaning of the following symbol:
Don’t just give the answer as “Forte”; this is not the meaning. A perfect answer would be “loud” or “forte, which means loud”.
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| All grade 1 terms as well as the following: | |
| a | at, to, by, for, in, in the style of |
| al, alla | to the, in the manner of |
| alla marcia | in the style of a march |
| Allargando | Broadening |
| Andantino | Slightly faster than Andante |
| assai | very |
| con, col | with |
| dolce | Sweetly |
| e, ed | and |
| espressivo (or espress. or espr.) | expressive (or expressively) |
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Translation = Loud then immediately soft. Musicians refer to this symbol as ‘Forte-Piano’ |
| Giocoso | Playful, merry |
| Grave | Slow, very solemn |
| Grazioso | Graceful |
| Larghetto | Rather Slow |
| Largo | Slow, stately |
| ma | but |
| Maestoso | Majestic |
| meno | less |
| molto | very, much |
| mosso, moto | movement |
| meno mosso | slower |
| con moto | with movement |
| non | not |
| piu | more |
| Presto | Fast (faster than allegro) |
| senza | without |
 or |
Translation = forced, accented. Musicians refer to these symbols as ‘Sforzato or Sforzando’ |
| Simile (or sim.) | in the same way |
| Sostenuto | Sustained |
| Tenuto | Held |
| troppo | too much |
| vivace, vivo | lively, quick |
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Translation = The notes are to be played as short as possible (shorter than Staccato). Musicians refer to these symbols as Staccatissimo. |
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Dots inside a slur mean that the notes should be played slightly separated but not as much as ordinary staccato dots. |
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Translation = Play each note marked with the ‘-‘ symbol for its full length. Sometimes described as putting a slight pressure on the note. Musicians refer to these symbols as ‘Tenuto’. |
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The symbol over the first two notes are accents, as detailed in the grade 1 terminology list. The symbol over the second two notes mean an even stronger accent. Musicians refer to the second two symbols as ‘Marcato’. |