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Whether you're playing an instrument or singing, you'll need to know these musical terms.

Grade 1 - Musical Terms (Part 2)

Grade 1 Musical Terms Part 2 adds dynamics and tempo. Learn accelerando, ritardando, mezzo forte, and more, so your playing changes speed and volume smoothly, as composers intend.

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Fascinating Fact:

Crescendo gets louder, diminuendo gets softer. Picture a volume knob turning up or down.

In Specialist Music Theory at Grade 1, this Musical Terms Part 2 page extends your vocabulary for expression and pacing. You’ll meet new dynamic levels and simple tempo changes used across beginner pieces.

Key Terms

Accelerando (accel.): Gradually getting faster.
Ritardando (rit.): Gradually getting slower.
Mezzo forte (mf): Moderately loud; between piano and forte.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What does accelerando mean in music?

Accelerando means gradually getting faster. You increase the speed a little at a time until the next marking tells you to return to the original tempo.

What do mp and mf stand for in Grade 1 theory?

mp is mezzo piano, meaning moderately soft. mf is mezzo forte, meaning moderately loud. They sit between p (soft) and f (loud).

What is the difference between ritardando and rallentando?

Both mean gradually slower. At Grade 1 they are used similarly; some teachers use ritardando and rallentando as near-synonyms for easing the tempo.