Performance Directions (Part 1)

1. Performance Directions (Part 1)
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Lesson review

2. Lesson: Performance Directions (Part 1)
Topic: Performance Directions
Performance directions are words and
symbols added to written music to give
more information about how the music
should be played

3. Lesson: Performance Directions (Part 1)
Topic: Performance Directions
We are dividing them into the following categories:
All performance directions
are in Italian unless
specified otherwise
Tempo
Dynamics
Style
Articulation
Geography
Symbols

4. Lesson: Performance Directions (Part 1)
Topic: Performance Directions
adagio - slow
andante - at a walking speed
moderato - at a moderate tempo
allegretto - slightly slower than allegro
allegro - quick, lively
accelerando (accel.) - getting faster
rallentando (rall.) - getting slower
ritardando (rit./ritard.) - getting slower
a tempo - back to the original tempo
slowest fastest
adagio
andante
moderato
allegretto
allegro
Tempo Speed
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fast / slow

5. Lesson: Performance Directions (Part 1)
Topic: Performance Directions
quietest
loudest fortissimo - very loud
forte - loud
mezzo forte - moderately loud
mezzo piano - moderately quiet
piano - quiet
pianissimo - very quiet
Dynamics Volume
-
loud / quiet

6. Lesson: Performance Directions (Part 1)
Topic: Performance Directions
crescendo (cresc.) - getting louder
diminuendo (dim.) - getting quieter
decrescendo (decresc.) - getting quieter
Dynamics Volume
-
loud / quiet

7. Lesson: Performance Directions (Part 1)
Topic: Performance Directions
Style
dolce - sweetly
legato - smoothly
cantabile - in a singing style
Used to
communicate
emotions /
type of music

8. Lesson: Performance Directions (Part 1)
Topic: Performance Directions
staccato - short / detached
accent - with force
slur - smoothly (legato)
Articulations Changes how
a note
is played

9. Lesson: Performance Directions (Part 1)
Topic: Performance Directions
Geography
Go back to the sign , then
stop when you get to Fine
(D.S. = dal segno)
Repeat signs
(go back to the beginning if the
first repeat sign is not there)
End here on repeat
(pronounced fee-nay)
Go back to the top, then
stop when you get to Fine
(D.C. = da capo)
Directions
showing which
bar should be
played next

10. Lesson: Performance Directions (Part 1)
Topic: Performance Directions
Symbols
Metronome mark - the number of
crotchet beats per minute
Pause (fermata) - hold the note
for longer than its given value

11. Lesson: Performance Directions (Part 1)
Topic: Performance Directions
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