Single-Line and Vocal Parts

Rest for that many full measures — e.g. a bar with '7' means count 7 silent measures before playing.

Boxed letters (A, B, C) or boxed bar numbers used as reference points, as in 'take it from letter C.'

Small, often smaller-size notes showing another instrument's music just before your entry — you don't play them, you listen for them.

'div.' = split the players into two separate parts; 'a2' or 'unis.' = everyone returns to the same note.

A small apostrophe-like mark above the staff meaning take a quick breath, usually stealing a little time from the previous note.

Two slanted lines (//) called 'railroad tracks' — a full stop where everything halts until the conductor moves on.

A slur means don't re-articulate the notes; a phrase mark means shape the notes as one musical thought, ideally in one breath.

One syllable per notehead, with syllables of a word separated by hyphens (glo- ri- ous).

One syllable sung over several notes, shown with a slur or beam plus an extender line after the syllable; hold the vowel and place the closing consonant on the last note.

Sing straight down the column for verse 1, then repeat the music with the row-2 text, watching for small rhythm changes in parentheses or extra small noteheads.

Sing the pitches first on a neutral vowel like 'ah', then add the words once the pitches are secure.