Music Corner. . .Know Italian?

All students know by now that musical terms are written in Italian. Many students have had the opportunity to learn the most common Italian music terms through our weekly games. Learning the Italian terms will increase a students ability to properly express the music.


For instance, knowing that f stands for the Italian term forte which means loud, allows a student to play or sing at the proper dynamic level. But, did you know that the Italian terms in music are not always dynamic indicators, they also represent moods. For example, the Italian term dolce means sweetly. This is often seen in music and following the prompt to play or sing sweetly makes a huge difference in the performance. Another example is the word crescendo which means gradually getting louder. When students follow the expressive terms written in the music, their performance will be received better and will be much more enjoyable to listen to.

So, remember to study your Italian and you will be much more expressive musician!