Tempo and Character Terms
Flashcards on metronome marks, Italian tempo words, modifiers, and mid-piece tempo changes.
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Questions Covered in This Set
10 cards to master
What does ♩ = 96 mean?
The quarter note is the beat, and 96 quarter-note beats fit in one minute (each lasts about 0.63 seconds).
What does M.M. stand for?
Maelzel's Metronome — the abbreviation used before a BPM number (e.g. M.M. = 96).
In 6/8 time, what does ♪. = 60 indicate?
The dotted quarter is the beat: one group of three eighth notes per second.
Order these slowest to fastest: Allegro, Largo, Andante, Presto
Largo (40–60), Andante (73–95), Allegro (115–150), Presto (170–190).
What tempo does Moderato suggest, and roughly how many BPM?
A moderate speed, about 95–110 BPM.
Translate the modifiers: molto, poco, non troppo, assai
molto = very; poco = a little; non troppo = not too much; assai = quite/very much.
What is the difference between ritardando and accelerando?
Ritardando (rit.) means gradually slowing down; accelerando (accel.) means gradually speeding up.
What do 'a tempo' and 'Tempo I' tell the performer?
'A tempo' means return to the previous tempo; 'Tempo I' (Tempo primo) means return to the original opening tempo.
What does a fermata (𝄐) mean?
Hold the note longer than written, for a duration of the performer's choosing.
What is a smart practice tempo strategy for a new piece?
Start at about 60–70% of the marked tempo, then increase in 4–8 BPM steps once you're accurate.
