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Italian Musical Tempo and Dynamics Terms

Learn the Italian terms for tempo, dynamics, and expression used in standard music notation.

Music40 items3 levelsDifficulty 2/5
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Levels

Start easy — harder levels unlock as you improve, or jump ahead anytime.

1
Common Dynamics
10 items
2
Common Tempos
11 items
3
Expression & Modifiers
19 items

All 40 cards

piano
soft
forte
loud
mezzo piano
medium soft
mezzo forte
medium loud
pianissimo
very soft
fortissimo
very loud
crescendo
getting louder
diminuendo
getting softer
decrescendo
getting softer
sforzando
sudden strong accent
largo
very slow and broad
adagio
slow
andante
walking pace
moderato
moderate tempo
allegro
fast and lively
vivace
lively and brisk
presto
very fast
prestissimo
as fast as possible
lento
slow
grave
very slow and solemn
allegretto
moderately fast
accelerando
gradually getting faster
ritardando
gradually slowing down
rallentando
gradually slowing down
a tempo
return to original tempo
rubato
flexible tempo
legato
smoothly connected
staccato
short and detached
tenuto
held for full value
fermata
pause/hold
dolce
sweetly
cantabile
in a singing style
marcato
marked and accented
con brio
with vigor
con fuoco
with fire
animato
animated/lively
sostenuto
sustained
ritenuto
held back
meno mosso
less motion (slower)
più mosso
more motion (faster)

Keep going

Note Values

Recognize note values by their symbol — and how many beats each gets in 4/4.

Music7 items

Reading Notes

Name notes on the staff — treble, then bass, then the ledger lines that trip everyone up.

Music28 items

Key Signatures

Read the key signature on the staff and name the major key.

Music15 items

Chord Types

Recognize chord types from the notes on the staff — triads, 7ths, and more.

Music10 items