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Tempo describes the speed at which music is played.

Musical Terms

Build your KS2 music vocabulary with key musical terms, from rhythm and tempo to notation and dynamics. Learn what they mean, then practise spotting them in the quiz.

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Fascinating Fact:

Pitch tells you how high or low a note is, and higher notes usually sit higher on the stave.

In KS2 Music, learning musical terms helps you talk clearly about what you can hear and what you are performing. These words also help you follow simple notation, practise accurately, and explain why music sounds the way it does.

Key Terms

Tempo: The speed of the music, such as fast, slow, or changing gradually.
Dynamics: How loud or quiet the music is, and how the volume changes.
Notation: The written symbols that show how music should be played, including notes and rests.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are musical terms in KS2 music?

Musical terms are special words musicians use to describe and perform music, like tempo, dynamics, rhythm and melody. They help you explain what you hear and follow instructions when playing.

What does tempo mean in music for kids?

Tempo means the speed of the music. A fast tempo can feel energetic, while a slow tempo can feel calm, and some pieces change tempo to create a different mood.

How do musical terms help you perform better?

Musical terms give you clear instructions, for example when to play louder, softer, faster or slower. Using the correct terms helps you practise the right skills and improve as a performer.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

This describes the speed at which music is played.

Ostinato

Beat

Rhythm

Tempo

Tempo is the Italian word for time

2 .

This is the term for 'very quiet'.

Pianissimo

Allegro

Minim

Forte

Forte means to play loud

3 .

These are the words which make up a song.

Melody

Harmony

Lyrics

Verse

Some pieces of music have no lyrics - can you think of any?

4 .

The dynamic for 'grow gradually louder' is ____.

ritardando

andante

dolce

crescendo

When a noise becomes quite loud, it is often described as 'rising to a crescendo'

5 .

The leading part in a musical composition is called the ____.

major key

harmony

melody

harmonics

The melody is what you most probably hum or sing when listening to a song - harmony is its accompaniment

6 .

This is the instruction that tells a musician which sharps and flats to play.

Key signature

Time signature

Chord

Dynamics

The key signature tells a musician in which key the music is written - it saves time writing out all the flats or sharps

7 .

This describes how long a note is held.

Scale

Tempo

Duration

Dynamics

This is an easy one to remember if you already know the meaning of duration

8 .

This is the family that is played by hitting or scraping the instruments.

Woodwinds

Percussion

Strings

Brass

Tambourines, triangles and whistles are examples of percussion

9 .

Another word for this element of music is 'pulse'.

Rhythm

Beat

Staccato

Texture

Although it may slow down or speed up at times, the beat is steady and predictable, like your heartbeat

10 .

This is another word for 'note'.

Tone

Volume

Flat

Key

This is an easy one because tone is an anagram of note!

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Essentials

Author: Sheri Smith (PhD English Literature, English Teacher & Quiz Writer)

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