Music / Grade 6 / Music terms Grade 6 Music terms
The words on printed music up to Grade 6.
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All Italian German French
Every term up to Grade 6 Learn these by heart
Grade 1
Term Language Meaning
a tempo Italian back to the speed before
accelerando Italian gradually getting quicker
adagio Italian slow
allegretto Italian fairly quick, a little slower than allegro
allegro Italian quick and lively
andante Italian at a walking pace
cantabile Italian in a singing style
crescendo Italian gradually getting louder
da capo Italian repeat from the beginning
diminuendo Italian gradually getting softer
dolce Italian sweetly and softly
fine Italian the end
moderato Italian at a moderate speed
rallentando Italian gradually getting slower
staccato Italian short and detached
Grade 2
Term Language Meaning
più mosso Italian with more movement, quicker
poco a poco Italian little by little
allargando Italian broadening, getting a little slower and fuller
dal segno Italian repeat from the sign
grave Italian very slow and solemn
grazioso Italian gracefully
largo Italian slow and broad
meno mosso Italian with less movement, slower
presto Italian very quick
ritenuto Italian held back, slower at once
vivace Italian lively and quick
tenuto Italian held for its full value
Grade 3
Term Language Meaning
agitato Italian agitated
andantino Italian a little faster than andante
energico Italian with energy
giocoso Italian playful and merry
leggiero Italian lightly
maestoso Italian majestically
marcato Italian emphasised, marked
pesante Italian heavily
prestissimo Italian as quick as possible
risoluto Italian boldly and firmly
scherzando Italian playfully, in a joking way
semplice Italian simply
simile Italian in the same way
subito Italian suddenly
tranquillo Italian calmly
sforzando Italian with a sudden strong accent
Grade 4
Term Language Meaning
affettuoso Italian tenderly, with affection
alla breve Italian with a minim beat
amabile Italian pleasant, amiable
comodo Italian at a comfortable speed
con brio Italian with vigour
deciso Italian with determination
larghetto Italian fairly slow, a little faster than largo
rubato Italian with some freedom of time
stringendo Italian gradually getting quicker
animé French animated, lively
modéré French at a moderate speed
retenu French held back
con sordino Italian with a mute
Grade 5
Term Language Meaning
ad libitum Italian at the performer's choice, freely
attacca Italian go straight on to the next section
morendo Italian dying away
rinforzando Italian reinforcing, a sudden increase in tone
smorzando Italian dying away in tone and speed
sonoro Italian with a full, rich tone
sotto voce Italian in an undertone, very quietly
langsam German slow
lebhaft German lively
ruhig German calm, peaceful
una corda Italian press the soft pedal
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