Music Study Notes: Dynamics and Expressive Techniques

Question 1

Crescendo

Answer 1

Gradually getting louder

Question 2

Decrescendo

Answer 2

Gradually getting softer

Question 3

Diminuendo

Answer 3

Getting softer

Question 4

Forte

Answer 4

Loud

Question 5

Fortissimo

Answer 5

Very loud

Question 6

Mezzo Forte

Answer 6

Moderately loud

Question 7

Mezzo Piano

Answer 7

Moderately soft

Question 8

Morendo

Answer 8

Dying away

Question 9

Pianissimo

Answer 9

Very soft

Question 10

Piano

Answer 10

Soft

Question 11

Stringendo

Answer 11

Pressing on faster

Question 12

Arco

Answer 12

With the bow

Question 13

Legato

Answer 13

Smoothly

Question 14

Pizzicato

Answer 14

Plucked

Question 15

Slurred

Answer 15

Smooth joining together of notes in a phrase

Question 16

Spiccato

Answer 16

A form of staccato bowing which allows the bow to bounce the strings

Question 17

Staccato

Answer 17

Short and detached

Question 18

Tongued

Answer 18

Each note of the phrase is separated and not well connected

Question 19

Accents

Answer 19

Strong emphasis on a note

Question 20

Distortion Pedals

Answer 20

Pedals used in rock music to alter the sound of the notes by changing the wave lengths of the sound creating a dirty sound quality

Question 21

Falsetto

Answer 21

A male voice singing very high

Question 22

Flutter Tonguing

Answer 22

Trilling the note with an ‘m’ sound

Question 23

Glissando

Answer 23

Smoothy, notes that are well connected

Question 24

Harmonics

Answer 24

Secondary, soft high sounds heard when any note is sounded.

Question 25

Mutes

Answer 25

Devices used to dampen the quality of the sound

Question 26

Note Bending

Answer 26

Pushing the string sideways as the note is being played

Question 27

Scat Singing

Answer 27

Singing of nonsense syllables instead of words

Question 28

Slurring

Answer 28

Playing notes well connected

Question 29

Sul Ponticello

Answer 29

Bow on or near the bridge of stringed instruments

Question 30

Tremolo

Answer 30

Rapid movement of the bow across the strings

Question 31

Vibrato

Answer 31

The gentle movement of the finger on a stringed instrument to a give a warm tone colour